Scottish Executive

Agriculture

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to assist sheep producers in the crofting counties to develop production procedures that enable them to operate in all areas of sheep production.

Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive provides underpinning support to all parts of the Scottish sheep industry via various methods, including direct payments to producers, and by funding initiatives relating to improving sheep health and genetics, animal traceability and marketing. Some specific measures such as the Ram Purchase Scheme, Highlands and Islands Sheep Strategy, and Highlands and Islands Veterinary Services Scheme are aimed specially at communities in the Highlands and Islands. It is, however, for individual producers to seek advice from relevant advisory organisations in order to develop production procedures which suit their own individual farming circumstances.

Agriculture

Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make arrangements for payments to farmers in Aberdeenshire under the Integrated Administration and Control System to be made as a matter of urgency.

Ross Finnie: The department gives priority to the payment of subsidies. Figures for specific areas are not readily available. But for Scotland as a whole, payments under the Arable Area Payments Scheme (AAPS) started on 16 November 2001, the first possible date under the EU legislation. By Christmas some 80% of AAPS claimants have had over £94 million paid into their bank accounts. The department is confident that it will meet its EU obligations to pay more than 96% of AAPS payments by the end of January 2002.

  In addition, more than £78 million has been paid out under the various livestock schemes since the beginning of November 2001. This covers almost all of the claims eligible for payment.

Air Services

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive who attended the aviation summit on 3 December 2001 on its behalf and what action it intends to take in light of this summit.

Lewis Macdonald: I attended the summit. The discussion was useful in inputting views to the forthcoming Air Transport Consultation Document to be published in 2002. This will address the policy responses which the Executive will wish to consider to meet the aviation challenges of the next 30 years.

Airports

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what reports it has commissioned, received or is aware of having been carried out on the economic benefits of Glasgow Prestwick Airport to the local and national economies and whether it will publish any of these reports.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive has not commissioned any such reports, nor has it received any. Officials are aware of a study by Airports Council International, Creating Employment and Prosperity in Europe , published in September 1998, and a Scottish Enterprise study into the economic impact of direct air services in Scotland of the same year.

Airports

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the current estimated cost is of providing a rail link to Edinburgh Airport and what assessment has been made of the usage of such a link and of its effect on the national and local economies.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive in association with British Airports Authority, Scottish Enterprise, the Strategic Rail Authority and the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions has recently commissioned Sinclair Knight Merz to undertake a study into route options to Edinburgh and Glasgow airports. The study will provide estimates of costs and passenger projections, as well as a detailed economic assessment. It is expected to take eight months to complete. It is therefore too early to say what the outcome will be.

Airports

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to introduce additional charges relating to security for passengers travelling through airports managed by Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd.

Lewis Macdonald: Plans to meet the additional costs relating to increased security are under consideration but no final decisions have yet been taken.

Asylum Seekers

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines it has issued to local authorities concerning the care and security of unaccompanied asylum seeking children who have been dispersed to Scotland and what information it has on the numbers of such children.

Cathy Jamieson: Immigration and asylum are reserved matters. The Home Office advise that around 1,560 unaccompanied children aged 17 or under applied for asylum in the United Kingdom in the first two quarters of 2001. The most recently published UK information is for 2000 and can be found in Asylum Statistics United Kingdom 2000 at www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html . The Scottish Executive does not hold separate information for Scotland.

  Under the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 local authorities have duties towards all children in their areas irrespective of immigration status. Comprehensive guidance on these duties was issued to local authorities in preparation for implementation of the Act in 1997. It is also available from The Stationery Bookshop, 71 Lothian Road, Edinburgh, EH3 9AZ.

Asylum Seekers

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what rights to education can be exercised by the children of asylum seekers.

Nicol Stephen: Under the Standards in Scotland’s Schools Act 2000, every child of school age has a right to be provided with school education by an education authority. This includes children of asylum seekers within their area. Education authorities have a duty to provide adequate and efficient school education for their area.

  In relation to pre-school education, the children of asylum seekers have the same access to pre-school education as other children of pre-school age, resident in a local authority area. Local authorities currently have the power to provide nursery education for all such children and from April 2002, will be under a duty to secure a pre-school place for all three- and four-year-olds whose parents wish it.

Asylum Seekers

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children of asylum seekers are currently in full-time school education and what special provision has been made for them.

Nicol Stephen: Comprehensive information on the numbers of asylum seeker children currently in full-time school education is not held centrally. Special provision for asylum seeker children is made according the needs of the children and might include, for example, the appointment of teachers of English as an additional language. Details of the special provision made are not held centrally.

Asylum Seekers

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken in response to the report of the Social Justice Committee on the committee’s response to petition PE242 by Action of Churches Together in Scotland, the Scottish Refugee Council and Amnesty International on asylum seekers.

Iain Gray: Fieldwork for Scottish Executive commissioned research on the impact of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 will get under way early in 2002.

  Scottish Executive action in a number of areas includes improving access to specialist legal advice and assistance, provision of additional funding for English language support, community development and integration in Glasgow.

  We are also establishing the Scottish Refugee Integration Forum to take forward the devolved interests in refugee integration in partnership with the public, private and voluntary sectors.

Autism

Mr Lloyd Quinan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-20424 by Nicol Stephen on 11 December 2001, what constitutes an understanding of autism on the part of educational psychologists.

Nicol Stephen: Psychologists should be familiar with the concept of the triad of impairments characteristic of autism, the range of autistic spectrum disorders and the most common approaches to teaching autistic children.

  Their understanding should arise from their training - where they are introduced to literature on autism - and through practical experience of working with children with autism during placements. In addition, educational psychologists already in post will have opportunities to update their knowledge of autism through Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

Autism

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what training in dealing with young people with autistic spectrum disorder is given to members of Children’s Panels.

Cathy Jamieson: During pre-service training panel members receive general information on child development and special needs, including reference to autistic spectrum disorder. Recent in-service training and locally organised training events have also addressed autistic spectrum disorder.

Autism

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many convictions there have been of people diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder in each of the last five years.

Mr Jim Wallace: The information requested is not held centrally.

Autism

Mr Lloyd Quinan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what training is available to psychiatrists in respect of autism and Asperger’s Syndrome.

Malcolm Chisholm: A theoretical knowledge of autistic spectrum disorder is required for all candidates sitting the examination for membership of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, which is the first level qualification for all those aspiring to become consultant psychiatrists. In the second phase of training, as specialist registrars, candidates for child and adolescent psychiatry posts will all be trained in the assessment, management, and collaborative approach to the problems experienced by people with autistic spectrum disorder, and those who care for them.

Autism

Mr Lloyd Quinan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many psychiatrists currently deal only with autism and Asperger’s Syndrome in each health board area.

Malcolm Chisholm: While a number of psychiatrists specialise in the treatment of specific conditions, they will treat patients with a wide range of psychiatric needs. Information is not collected on those who deal only with autism and Asperger’s Syndrome, as staff data is classified by main specialty only and does not identify sub-categories of specialty or special interest.

Autism

Mr Lloyd Quinan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what training specific to autism and Asperger’s syndrome is currently offered by health boards in Scotland to all staff.

Malcolm Chisholm: It is the responsibility of each trust, as the employer, to ensure that individuals have the training required to provide effective patient care. The amount of additional training provided locally by trusts for the treatment of specific conditions will differ according to local needs. Information on such training is not available centrally but will be held by local NHS management. Contact details for NHS management personnel are available on www.show.scot.nhs.uk , should the member wish information for particular employers.

Autism

Mr Lloyd Quinan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what incentives are currently available for clinical psychologists, teachers, GPs and psychiatrists to specialise and train in autism and Asperger’s syndrome.

Malcolm Chisholm: There are currently no specific incentives for clinical psychologists to train in autistic spectrum disorders. However, the Scottish Council for Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education (SCPMDE) is considering a number of initiatives to ensure that the training strategy for clinical psychology remains responsive to changing service needs.

  There are also no specific incentives available for teachers to specialise and train in autism and Asperger’s syndrome. Teachers are expected to undertake continuing professional development (CPD) as part of their work, and will be expected to fulfil an additional 35 hours CPD from August 2003. The Chartered Teacher programme, to be available from August 2003, is likely to include a module on Special Educational Needs which may cover these syndromes. An additional pay increment is available with every two modules passed.

  General practitioners, like other professionals, are encouraged to look at their own personal learning needs and the health needs of their patients and to seek training in specific areas accordingly. Guidance and assistance is available from SCPMDE via the postgraduate Directors of General Practice Education. Each GP already receives an annual Postgraduate Education Allowance to support an agreed amount of training.

  A theoretical knowledge of autistic spectrum disorder is required for all candidates sitting the examination for membership of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, which is the first-level qualification for all those aspiring to become consultant psychiatrists. In the second phase of training, as specialist registrars, candidates for child and adolescent psychiatry posts will all be trained in the assessment, management and collaborative approach to the problems experienced by people with autistic spectrum disorder, and those who care for them.

Autism

Mr Lloyd Quinan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on any research carried out into people over 40 diagnosed with autism in each of the last five years; what the (a) name, (b) date and (c) author of any such research was in each case, and whether it will place copies of reports from any such research in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Malcolm Chisholm: The National Research Register (NRR) records that there were no research projects carried out in the last five years into people over 40 diagnosed with autism. A copy of the NRR is available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 17404).

Autism

Mr Lloyd Quinan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on any research carried out on any links between autism and dementia; when and by whom any such research was carried out, and whether it will place copies of reports from any such research in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Malcolm Chisholm: The National Research Register (NRR) reports that there are no research projects on links between autism and dementia. A copy of the NRR is available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 17404).

Cancer

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin & Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-19754 by Susan Deacon on 26 November 2001, what assistance in terms of resources or additional service planning or provision is being given to support the measures set out in the report by Mr Tom Divers, Chief Executive of Greater Glasgow NHS Board, relating to the continuity and improvement of cancer services for users of the West of Scotland cancer service.

Malcolm Chisholm: As indicated in the published Action Plan, a variety of additional resources and support arrangements are being established including:

  a dedicated Joint Management Board

  an external clinical support team

  a project monitoring and review group

  dedicated organisational development support

  a full time senior manager

  £2.4 million of the additional funding announced on 6 November for implementation of the cancer plan is going directly to Glasgow out of a total of more than £5 million for the West of Scotland cancer services.

Cancer

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what incentives will be made available to attract consultants to the vacant posts at Beatson Oncology Centre.

Malcolm Chisholm: All posts are available subject to the terms and conditions of service for consultants employed by the NHSScotland. Dr Adam Bryson and the Management Team will work meticulously through the raft of issues which the consultants and other senior clinical staff within the Beatson Oncology Centre have raised.

Central Heating

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many households in the constituency of West Renfrewshire will benefit from the Central Heating Programme and when improvements under the programme will be undertaken in those households.

Iain Gray: This information is not available on a constituency basis. Six hundred and thirty-seven houses owned by Renfrewshire Council are eligible for the Central Heating Programme. The council have been given resources to install central heating and insulation in 140 of them this year. The other houses will all be improved by March 2004. Over 450 private sector householders in the Renfrewshire postcode area have applied to Eaga for a grant and those who are eligible should receive central heating this financial year. Other private households will be dealt with as they apply and Eaga will be publicising the programme to encourage them to do so.

Central Heating

Mr Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to accelerate the delivery of its Central Heating Programme.

Iain Gray: We announced on 20 September that the Central Heating Programme would be accelerated so that all eligible local authority tenants will receive central heating by April 2004 and that all tenants of housing associations will receive central heating during 2004.

Children With Special Needs

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what requests for funding it has had from South Lanarkshire Council for the creation of a secondary school special needs unit within South Lanarkshire and what funding it has made available for this purpose.

Nicol Stephen: We have no record of a request from South Lanarkshire Council for funding for the creation of a specific secondary school special needs unit. The authority is responsible for funding school building work, including work for special needs provision, from the general resources available to it.

Civil Service

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S1W-19680 and S1W-19681 by Angus MacKay on 19 November 2001, whether it will consider relocating civil service jobs to Argyll and Bute in the foreseeable future.

Peter Peacock: Two objectives govern relocation decisions. First, the location of organisations should promote efficiency and effectiveness. Second, subject to the first objective, the work of the Scottish Executive and related bodies should be close to the communities they serve. When relocation is being considered, no parts of the country are targeted, nor are any ruled out. Each relocation decision is viewed on its own merits and a decision is taken about where each organisation should be situated, based on the relevant factors in each case. Argyll and Bute will continue to be considered as a potential area for relocation.

Conservation

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the social and economic consequences of its proposal to designate Sullom Voe as a marine Special Area of Conservation as included in its submission to the European Commission on this proposal.

Allan Wilson: The submission to the European Commission does not include social and economic information.

Conservation

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what social and economic consequences of its proposal to designate Sullom Voe as a marine Special Area of Conservation it considered before deciding to submit the proposal to the European Commission.

Allan Wilson: European Court of Justice rulings have determined that socio-economic factors cannot be taken into account when considering the designation of Natura sites. Once a site has been submitted to the European Commission, socio-economic factors can be and are taken into account in the management of these areas. Social and economic issues which were raised during the consultation will be taken into account in further discussions on management of the site.

Conservation

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the scientific basis was for its proposal to designate Sullom Voe as a marine Special Area of Conservation.

Allan Wilson: Shetland Voes have been identified as a discrete type of Large Shallow Inlet and Bay using definitions published by the European Commission and by the UK Joint Nature Conservation Committee for the purpose of the Habitats Directive.

  The criteria used to assess Special Areas of Conservation were published in the Joint Nature Conservation Committee Report number 270. Application of these criteria, using a range of ecological information from surveys undertaken over 35 years, has demonstrated that Sullom Voe meets the published definition of a Large Shallow Inlet and Bay, and qualifies as the most suitable candidate for selection on the basis of its area of qualifying habitat and the range and ecological richness of its biotopes.

Conservation

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what organisations and individuals were consulted before it submitted to the European Commission its proposal to designate Sullom Voe as a marine Special Area of Conservation and which of these were given the opportunity to see and comment on the full scientific documentation on which the proposal is based.

Allan Wilson: Formal consultation documents were sent to all owners and occupiers and other interested parties in September 2000.

  The covering letter included in the consultation package offered further details to all consultees if they wished, and a copy of the full scientific justification was issued to any consultees who requested it, including the Shetland Islands Council.

  Sullom Voe Candidate Special Area of Conservation

  List of Consultees

  


Consultee




A. Owners and Occupiers




Mr Peter Brown 
  



Ms Jeanette Spall 
  



Ms Ruby Brown 
  



Ms Ingrid Laurenson 
  



Mr Allan Ridland 
  



Mr Charlie Laurenson 
  



Mr Alex JB Williamson 
  



Mr AL Ratter 
  



Mr Roy Dickens 
  



Mr John Robertson 
  



Mr Peter Ratter 
  



Mr Bob Jamieson 
  



Mr Gerry Ramsay 
  



Mr John Scollay 
  



Mr Bruce Stephen 
  



Mr Ian Peterson 
  



Mr AT & KP Doull 
  



Mr M Ernie Peterson 
  



Mr Billy Johnson 
  



Ms Mabel Rendall 
  



Ms Angela Mowat 
  



Mr Stuart Balfour 
  



Mr James Hall 
  



Mr Frank Anderson 
  



Mr WD Williamson 
  



Mr & Mrs J&J Manson 
  



Ms Mira Irvine 
  



Mrs Ina O’Neil 
  



Mr Chris Laurenson 
  



Messrs Adam & Derek Hunter 
  



Ms Elma Manson 
  



Mr Brydan Nicolson 
  



Mr A Hawick 
  



Mr Bertie Johnson 
  



Mr J Manson 
  



Dianne & Mark Bryant 
  



Mr R Johnson 
  



Mr RC Hawick 
  



Mr G Robertson 
  



Mr WH Manson 
  



Mr W Brown 
  



Mr ATH Tulloch 
  



Mrs Elizabeth Hileman 
  



Ms Hazel Leask 
  



Mr Bobby Nicolson 
  



Mrs Elaine Williamson 
  



Gordon Grant, Terminal Manager, BP Exploration Operating 
  Co. Sullom Voe Terminal 
  



Gordon Grant, BP, Scatsta Airport 
  



Willie Inkster, Serco, Scatsta Airport 
  



Malcolm Stevens, Brent System Manager, Shell Exploration 
  & Production 
  



B. Local Authorities other competent 
  authorities




Shetland Islands Council: 
  



Mr Morgan Goodlad, Chief Executive, 
  



Mr Graham Spall, Exec Dir Infrastructure Services 
  



Capt. George Sutherland, Dir. Of Marine Operations, Shetland 
  Islands Council 
  



Mr Alvin Bashforth, Dir of Economic Development 
  



Exec Dir Community Services 
  



Scottish Environmental Protection Agency 
  



C. Utilities & Others




Mr Malcolm Miller, NoSWA 
  



Mr J.Moncrieff, Shetland Amenity Trust 
  



Mr M.Mullay, Shetland Islands Tourism 
  



Mr A Miller, Secretary, Shetland Anglers Association 
  



Ms Janis Smith, Secretary, Shetland Field Studies Group 
  



Wendy Dickson, General Secretary, Shetland Bird Club 
  



Mr P.M.Ellis, Shetland Officer, RSPB 
  



Shetland Enterprise Co. Ltd., Toll Clock Shopping Centre 
  



Kenny Hughson, Shetland Towage 
  



Linda Kingham, SOTEAG 
  



Mrs Vera Clerk, Delting Community Council 
  



Mrs Williamson, Northmavine Community council 
  



D. Marine Interested Parties




Mr John Goodlad, Shetland Fishermens’ Association 
  



Mr Gibbie Johnson, Shetland Salmon Farmers’ Association 
  



Mr John Morrison, Shetland Sub-aqua Club 
  



E. Unsolicited views 
  



Letter to Sarah Boyack MSP hand delivered to SNH office 
  from Mr DF Hawkins 
  



Mr C Gallagher

Conservation

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive on what date it made its submission to the European Commission on its proposal to designate Sullom Voe as a marine Special Area of Conservation.

Allan Wilson: Sullom Voe was submitted to the European Commission by the UK Government on 30 November 2001.

Crime

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin & Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many offences have been reported which occurred in the vicinity of live railway lines in each year since 1997.

Mr Jim Wallace: The information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Executive. The following information has been supplied by the British Transport Police in respect of crimes and offences occurring on or near railway lines.

  Crimes and Offences occurring on or near railway lines reported and recorded by the British Transport Police

  


Crime/Offence 
  

1997-98 
  

1998-99 
  

1999-2000 
  

2000-01 
  






Reported 
  

Detected 
  

Reported 
  

Detected 
  

Reported 
  

Detected 
  

Reported 
  

Detected 
  



Endangering Safety 
  

21 
  

14 
  

21 
  

12 
  

28 
  

10 
  

42 
  

8 
  



Obstruction 
  

84 
  

10 
  

82 
  

4 
  

67 
  

3 
  

63 
  

4 
  



Throwing Missile 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

1 
  

0 
  



Vandalism1


797 
  

48 
  

736 
  

56 
  

316 
  

32 
  

278 
  

39 
  



Trespass 
  

2,165 
  

657 
  

1,796 
  

505 
  

1,769 
  

333 
  

1,927 
  

368 
  



Stone throwing 2


591 
  

30 
  

516 
  

25 
  

556 
  

22 
  

650 
  

28 
  



  Source: British Transport Police.

  Notes:

  1. Vandalism covers a wide range of offences and includes all forms of damage to trains. The decreases which are evidenced have been caused by changes in recording practice adopted by the British Transport Police.

  2. Stone throwing is a generic term and relates to any minor item thrown at rolling stock and the railway infrastructure which does not cause any damage.

Culture

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty’s Government regarding the Home Secretary’s view on promoting a British culture.

Dr Elaine Murray: None.

Culture

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the promotion of a British culture in Scotland by Her Majesty’s Government.

Dr Elaine Murray: Scotland has made and continues to make a significant contribution to British, European and World culture.

Culture

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it would define British culture.

Dr Elaine Murray: It is not for the Executive to seek to define British culture.

Culture

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to promote a British culture among those Scots, of all ethnic groups, who hold that their national identity is Scottish rather than British.

Dr Elaine Murray: All Scots can and should take pride in the culture of Scotland and the culture of Britain in all their diversity.

Culture

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-20472 by Dr Elaine Murray on 11 December 2001, how much the severance payment made to Tessa Jackson following her departure as Director of the Scottish Arts Council was and whether ministerial approval was sought for the sum involved.

Dr Elaine Murray: I have nothing further to add to my reply to question S1W-20472 on 11 December 2001 on this subject.

Culture

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what direct or indirect financial assistance it has given to the Glasgow Piping Centre in the last two years and what the purpose of the assistance was.

Dr Elaine Murray: In September 2000, the Piping Centre in Glasgow received a grant of £250,000 from the Scottish Executive. In November 2001 they were granted £300,000. Both grants were offered to reduce the debt of the centre and thus help it continue to provide tuition for musicians.

Culture

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what direct or indirect financial assistance it has given to the Royal Scottish National Orchestra in the last two years and what the purpose of the assistance was.

Dr Elaine Murray: The Scottish Arts Council has provided funding to the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO) in the last two years as follows:

  


2000-01 
  

£2,428,522 core revenue funding 
  



2001-02 (to date) 
  

£2,590,613 core revenue funding 
  



  Plus £3,500 towards the cost of composing a major work for the orchestra and £1,000 towards attendance at the National Arts Fundraising School.

  In addition, following council approval of the RSNO application for entry to the Lottery Advancement Scheme, a sum of £775,000 has been reserved for the company’s planned process of change.

  The company has also accessed from the council a £500,000 advance of their 2002 to 2003 core revenue funding grant in order to assist in its management of cash flow.

  The Executive has given no direct financial assistance to the company.

Culture

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what payments it has made to assist arts organisations with the reduction of deficits, broken down by amount and organisation, in the last two years.

Dr Elaine Murray: The Executive has awarded the Piping Centre £550,000 in this period for this purpose (I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-21105). No other award has been made by the Executive directly, although Scottish Opera received £1.9 million in 2000-01 through the Scottish Arts Council in respect of its deficit.

Deafblind People

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authorities currently ensure that community care assessments of deafblind children and adults are carried out by specialists in dual-sensory impairment.

Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is not held centrally. However, one of the recommendations in the Sensing Progress report was that local authorities should review their assessment arrangements for people who have a sensory impairment to ensure that assessments are carried out speedily and that wider needs are considered whenever necessary.

  Social Work Services Inspectorate will monitor the recommendations in their next round of visits, and the Chief Inspector of Social Work Services will record what progress has been made in his next Annual Report.

Education

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the planned guidelines for home schooling will require entry to premises used for home schooling by representatives of local councils.

Nicol Stephen: The draft guidance, which has been issued for consultation until March 2002, indicates that authorities do not have an automatic right of access to a home educating family's home. It recommends that where a family does not feel comfortable in allowing an education officer into their home, the authority should respect their views and arrange a meeting in a mutually acceptable location.

  Although it is recognised that the learning environment has a key bearing on the effectiveness of learning, authorities should, in the majority of cases, be able to assess the suitability of the education being provided without gaining access to the child’s home.

  The draft guidance also suggests, however, that it is reasonable for authorities to be given access to the home educated child in order to adequately assess the child's progress and to satisfy themselves that the child is receiving a suitable education.

Education

Mr Lloyd Quinan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many classroom assistants are employed in primary schools in 2001-02, broken down by local authority area.

Nicol Stephen: The number of classroom assistants employed by education authorities in 2001-02 is not available. The latest returns for the Excellence Fund show that at March this year education authorities employed 2,663 FTE classroom assistants. A breakdown by authority is set out in the following table.

  


Authority 
  

Classroom Assistants 2000-01 (FTE) 
  



Aberdeen City 
  

124 
  



Aberdeenshire 
  

108 
  



Angus 
  

49 
  



Argyll & Bute 
  

23 
  



Clackmannanshire 
  

21 
  



Dumfries & Galloway 
  

64 
  



Dundee 
  

64 
  



East Ayrshire 
  

69 
  



East Dunbartonshire 
  

80 
  



East Lothian 
  

31 
  



East Renfrewshire 
  

70 
  



Edinburgh 
  

147 
  



Eilean Siar 
  

5 
  



Falkirk 
  

88 
  



Fife 
  

156 
  



Glasgow 
  

358 
  



Highland 
  

79 
  



Inverclyde 
  

60 
  



Midlothian 
  

42 
  



Moray 
  

51 
  



North Ayrshire 
  

81 
  



North Lanarkshire 
  

186 
  



Orkney 
  

4 
  



Perth & Kinross 
  

54 
  



Renfrewshire 
  

131 
  



Scottish Borders 
  

49 
  



Shetland Islands 
  

5 
  



Stirling 
  

60 
  



South Ayrshire 
  

203 
  



South Lanarkshire 
  

27 
  



West Dunbartonshire 
  

64 
  



West Lothian 
  

109 
  



Total 
  

2,663

Education

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give a breakdown of the total spending on Scottish schools by (a) it, (b) local authorities, (c) Her Majesty’s Government and (d) any other sources in each of the past two years.

Cathy Jamieson: Planned direct expenditure on school education by the Scottish Executive totalled £141 million in 2000-01 (including a planned carry forward of £59 million as part of the funding package for the teachers’ pay settlement) and is planned to be £131 million in 2001-02. Provisional expenditure by local authorities on school education in 2000-01 was £2,752 million and is planned to be £2,953 million in 2001-02. This totals £2,893 million and £3,084 million respectively.

  The Scottish Executive does not hold details of any UK Government expenditure, nor funding from any other source, on Scottish schools.

Education

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to improve the training available to teachers so that the appropriate support is provided to children suffering from illnesses such as asthma and epilepsy.

Nicol Stephen: Guidelines for initial teacher education courses in Scotland, which are in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 18071), require that courses prepare teachers entering the profession to be responsive to the needs of all pupils in respect of health and general well being. The guidelines are not prescriptive and each training institution develops their own programme.

  Good practice guidance on the administration of medicine in schools, which is in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 15847), recommends that school staff should have general awareness training of a number of medical conditions.

  It is the responsibility of local authorities, as employers, to ensure a wide range of Continuing Professional Development opportunities is available for teachers. This should include a range of activities that ensures teachers are well prepared to deal with pupils' health issues.

Education

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-19775 by Nicol Stephen on 21 November 2001, why, in light of its involvement in the Personal ICT project on classrooms of the future announced on 23 November 2001, it would not be appropriate for it to comment on aspects of Dumfries and Galloway Council's "school of the future" concept.

Nicol Stephen: The Executive is committed in Working Together for Scotland to support and evaluate "Future School" projects, which encourage local authorities and schools to explore new ways of delivering learning and teaching to meet the needs of their pupils. We are also committed to dialogue with local authorities to develop school estate strategies that will take a forward-looking view of future infrastructure needs.

  We have not been approached by Dumfries and Galloway Council on specific learning and teaching or infrastructure proposals for the future. We are willing to discuss with the council any such proposals they wish to submit to the Executive.

Education

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many student radiographer places there were at Glasgow Caledonian University in each academic year from 1996-97 to 2001-02 and how many places are planned for 2002-03.

Malcolm Chisholm: Data on radiography student places is not held centrally. However, Glasgow Caledonian University has supplied the following figures (which include diagnostic and therapeutic radiography).

  


Academic year 
  

No of FTE student places in radiography 
  



1996-97 
  

55 
  



1997-98 
  

55 
  



1998-99 
  

55 
  



1999-2000 
  

55 
  



2000-01 
  

55 
  



2001-02 
  

67 
  



Academic year 
  

No of anticipated FTE student place in radiography 
  



2002-03 
  

67

Education

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in enhancing the quality and availability of foreign language teaching in primary and secondary schools.

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to ensure that teachers are adequately supported in delivering foreign language classes within primary and secondary schools.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive response to the recommendations made by the Action Group for Languages in its report, Citizens of a Multilingual World , outlined proposals to support language education in primary and secondary schools. The response, available from the Parliament’s Reference Centre under Bib. numbers 10393 (report) and 16335 (response), set out how the Scottish Executive would provide additional financial support to local authorities to secure improvements in quality and availability of foreign language education.

Education

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what entitlement primary and secondary school pupils have to foreign language teaching.

Nicol Stephen: The Action Group for Languages outlined its recommendation that pupils should have an entitlement to foreign language learning. This entitlement, which comprises 11 elements, was accepted in full by the Scottish Executive in its published response to the report. Both the report, Citizens of a Multilingual World, and the Scottish Executive response are available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. numbers 110392 and 16335 respectively). To promote awareness of the entitlement, the Scottish Executive is developing information leaflets for pupils and their parents which will be distributed early in the New Year.

Education

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is its policy that education advisers working for local authorities should receive salary increments and enhancements in line with those awarded to teachers.

Nicol Stephen: The pay and conditions of service for education advisers is currently under review by the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT) Psychologists and Advisers working group. They expect to make recommendations to the full SNCT early in the New Year.

Education

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has issued to local authorities regarding pay and conditions of education advisers employed by them.

Nicol Stephen: Guidance has not been given to local authorities as the pay and conditions of service for education advisers is currently under review by the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT) Psychologists and Advisers working group. They expect to make recommendations to the full SNCT early in the New Year.

Education

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any circumstances in which education advisers employed by local authorities should be paid substantially less than the senior school managers and principal teachers whom they support and advise.

Nicol Stephen: The pay and conditions of service for education advisers is currently under review by the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT) Psychologists and Advisers Working Group. They expect to make recommendations to the full SNCT early in the New Year.

Education

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin & Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on average class sizes in nursery schools in each education authority in each year since 1994.

Cathy Jamieson: The information requested is not held centrally. As part of our drive towards more consistent regulation of childcare, we are working towards revised staff: child ratios across all sectors. The National Care Standards Committee has proposed a staff: child ratio of 1:8 for children aged three to five and 1:10 for sessions of less that four hours. The results of consultations are expected early in 2002.

Education

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin & Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on average class sizes in primary schools in each education authority in each year since 1994.

Nicol Stephen: The SEED annual School Census, conducted in September each year, is used to collect statistical information from schools. Class size information was collected from primary schools every two years until 1997. Since 1997, class size figures have been collected every year. Average class sizes in publicly funded schools by education authority are published in the annual School Census Summary Results bulletin, copies of which are available from the Parliament’s Reference Centre.

Education

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin & Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on average class sizes in secondary schools in each education authority in each year since 1994.

Nicol Stephen: The SEED annual School Census, conducted in September each year, is used to collect statistical information from schools. Summary class size information was collected from secondary schools every two years until 1997. Information on secondary school class sizes has not been collected since 1997. The average class size in publicly funded secondary schools was last published by education authority in the Summary Results of the 1995 School Census bulletin, and nationally in the Summary Results of the 1997 School Census bulletin.

Education

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to collect information on the number of (a) requests received from parents to defer entry to primary school and (b) the number of such requests which were granted from the school year 2000-01 to date, broken down by local authority area.

Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive intends to collect information relating to deferral requests from local authorities as part of its annual survey of placing requests starting with school year 2001-02. The information will include the number of requests made to defer entry to primary P1, the numbers granted, refused, under consideration and withdrawn, and the reasons given for refusal. The results will be published in a statistical news release.

  Separate arrangements are being made to collect and publish information relating to school year 2000-01.

Education

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to fund the recommendations of the Deferrals Working Group published in December 2000 and the announcement made by the then Deputy Minister for Education, Europe and External Affairs on 12 June 2001 that children who become four in January or February and who have their entry to primary school deferred by their parents will be able to access an additional year of publicly funded pre-school education, given the subsequent announcement by the Minister for Finance and Public Services on 6 December 2001 that resources allocated to local authorities for pre-school education will no longer be ring-fenced.

Cathy Jamieson: The working group on the re-integration of pre-school education grant considered the recommendations of the Deferrals Working Group as part of their examination of the costs of re-integration. They agreed that the additional costs associated with children who become four in January or February and defer their entry into primary school would be affordable within the £137 million pre-school education grant to be reintegrated from April 2002.

  The reintegrated pre-school education grant forms part of the recently announced Local Government Settlement for 2002-03. Separate spending assessments for individual services are not identified nor subject to "ring fenced" conditions of grant.

Education

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the improvement of the school experience for pupils is a priority for Scottish ministers and what support it has given to local authorities to safeguard the pay and working conditions of Education Advisers to achieve this.

Nicol Stephen: The improvement of the school experience for pupils is a high priority for Scottish ministers. The pay and conditions of service for education advisers is currently under review by the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT) Psychologists and Advisers Working Group. They expect to make recommendations to the full SNCT in the New Year.

Elderly People

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received from individuals and organisations concerning the potential for elderly people, including those suffering from dementia and from mental health problems, to be exploited by "cold-callers".

Malcolm Chisholm: No such representations have been received.

Elderly People

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will pursue discussions with gas and electricity suppliers regarding the impact of the way in which their staff and any contracted staff deal with elderly people and people suffering from dementia and other mental health problems so that their approach is sympathetic, respectful and in the best interests of the customer, particularly when they are dealing with a request to change supplier.

Malcolm Chisholm: Regulation of the energy supply markets is a reserved matter.

  Energywatch is responsible for monitoring the behaviour and practices of companies in the marketplace and, with the Office of Gas and Electrical Markets, has a specific responsibility to have regard to the interests of vulnerable adults, including the disabled, the chronically sick and the elderly.

Employment

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to its News Release SE1784/1999 of 27 December 1999, how many of the 160 projected call centre jobs at the refurbished Claridge Mill in Selkirk have now been secured.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The call centre company based at Claridge Mill currently employs 26 staff. A further eight individuals have been offered places and are due to start on 7 January.

  Given the current marketplace, it has taken longer than planned to secure contracts that provide for the employment of a larger number of staff. The company is currently in discussion with a number of potential clients, which if concluded successfully will lead to a rapid increase in the number of employees at the site.

Employment

Scott Barrie (Dunfermline West) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many ex-offenders were offered employment by local authorities on their release in each of the past three years, broken down by local authority area.

Peter Peacock: This information is not held centrally. As independent corporate bodies, it is for local authorities to determine those officers that should be appointed for the proper discharge of their functions and, in doing so, act within the law.

Employment

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin & Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many persons from ethnic minorities are employed by it and what percentage of its workforce they represent.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive is currently involved in the development and implementation of improved ethnicity monitoring of staff. A comprehensive survey of ethnicity information for all staff has recently been undertaken, and information from that will be available within the next few months.

Employment

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin & Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive by how much employment has risen since 1997.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The latest figures (August to October 2001) show the employment level for all people over 16 in Scotland to be 2,382,000. The equivalent figure in 1997 was 2,317,000. This is an increase of 65,000.

Enterprise

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance and advice have been issued to businesses and the tourist industry in relation to the introduction of the euro currency in January 2002.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Detailed advice on business preparation for the euro is available from Scotland Europa. They are, in conjunction with HM Treasury, implementing a detailed programme, including workshops, conferences, publications and a telephone hotline to provide advice to Scottish businesses and raise awareness of the need to make appropriate preparations for the introduction of the currency.

  Scotland Europa also has responsibility for administering the activities of the Scottish EuroForum. The forum brings together major commercial and public sector organisations to share information and help provide practical advice to Scotland's business community in its preparation for the introduction of the euro. It is supported by the Scottish Executive, with additional support from the private sector. VisitScotland are members of the forum.

Enterprise

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-15941 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 18 May 2001, how many of the "initial expressions of interest" in the Motorola facility it has followed up, and what the current status of each of those expressions of interest is.

Ms Wendy Alexander: A small number of speculative enquiries have been received to date but there have been no firm offers acceptable to Motorola. Scottish Development International, in conjunction with Chesterton Blumenauer Binswanger, the property agents appointed by Motorola, continues to market the facility on a world-wide basis. It is for the company, not the Scottish Executive, to pursue expressions of interest in the first instance.

Europe

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of the current position regarding pre-Article 226 letter infraction proceedings initiated by the European Commission in respect of (a) 2000/4034: EC Directive 76/160/EEC: Concerning quality of bathing water, (b) 2000/4976: Proposed development at Kingask Estate, St Andrews, (c) D(01) 141: Isle of Skye crossing: Public procurement, (d) D-310097: Implementation of EC Directive 91/271/EEC concerning urban waste water treatment and (e) D(01) 53287: Qualifications for waste management.

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of the current position regarding Article 226 letter infraction proceedings initiated by the European Commission in respect of (a) 98/5023: Parallel imports of plant protection products in the UK (supplementary A226 letter), (b) 2000/2272: Transportation of Council Directive 99/32/EC relating to a reduction in the sulphur content of certain flammable liquid fuels, (c) 2001/00154: Council Directive 2000/27/EC introducing minimum Community measures for the control of certain fish diseases, (d) 2001/0055 Commission Directive 2000/24/EC on fixing minimum levels of pesticide residues in and on cereals, foodstuffs of animal or plant origin, (e) 2001/0056: Directive 2000/15/EC on health problems affecting intra-Community trade in bovine animals and swine, (f) 2001/0060: EC Directive 1999/91 relating to plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with foodstuffs, (g) 2001/0062: EC Directive 1999/51 adapting technical progress relating to restrictions on the marketing of certain dangerous substances and preparations (tin, PCP and cadmium), (h) 2001/0064: EC Directive 1993/35/EC concerning liability for defective products, (i) 2001/0065: Quality of water intended for human consumption, (j) 2001/0066: EC Directive 98/53/EC laying down sampling methods of analysis for the official control of levels of contaminents in foodstuffs, (k) 2001/0179: EC Directive 2000/5/EC on a second general system for the recognition of professional education and training, (l) 2001/0180: EC Directive 2000/42/EC on fixing of maximum residues in and on cereals, foodstuffs of animal origin and certain products of plant origin, (m) 2001/0181: EC Directive 2000/45/ED establishing Community methods of analysis for the determination of vitamin A, vitamin E and tryptophan in feeding stuffs, (n) 2001/0182: EC Directive 2000/71/EC to adapt measuring methods, (o) 2001/0183: Directive 1994/4/EC relating to coffee and chicory extracts, (p) 2000/0184: EC Directive 1999/94/EC relating to the availability of consumer information on fuel economy and CO2 emissions in respect of passenger cars and (q) 2000/0185: EC Directive 98/27/EC on injunction of consumer interests

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of the current position regarding the infraction proceedings initiated by the European Commission in respect of (a) 97/2138: Use of hyperchlorinated water in poultry-meat establishments, (b) 2000/0071 & 2000/0066: Implementation of Directives concerning additives in feeding stuffs, (c) 2000/0252: EC Directive 98/101/EC on batteries and accumulators containing certain dangerous substances, (d) 2000/0605: EC Directive 98/81/EC on contained use of genetically modified micro-organisms, (e) 2000/0607: Placing of biocidal products on the market and (f) 2000/2110: EC Directive 97/33/EC on operator number portability and carrier re-selection.

Mr Jim Wallace: Correspondence between the Commission and a member state on an infraction case often forms part of a negotiation over complex and delicate issues, which will not necessarily lead to proceedings before the Court. It may harm the chances of reaching a satisfactory outcome to the negotiation, and thereby of avoiding Court proceedings, if the position of either party is made public at an early stage.

Finance

Shona Robison (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to its news release SE4934/2001 of 27 November 2001, whether it intends to use Scotland’s share of the £1 billion extra funding for health to improve the delivery of public services in general and, if so, what criteria it will use for allocating this funding and when it will announce where the funding is to be allocated.

Mr Andy Kerr: Cabinet will take decisions in the New Year on the allocation of the additional resources Scotland received as a result of the Pre-Budget Report.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether vehicles transporting ash derived from the pyres of foot-and-mouth disease infected carcasses are washed so as to prevent the risk of diseased material spreading to a previously disease-free area.

Ross Finnie: The pyre ash being transported from the three mass burn sites used during the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in Dumfries and Galloway and the Borders is material resultant from the cremation of animals which did not have foot-and-mouth disease but were on farms contiguous to an infected premises. The ash is being disposed of at a suitably licensed engineered landfill site in accordance with advice from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

  Although the material presents no foot-and-mouth disease risk, as a precaution, the loaded vehicles are washed and disinfected as they leave the burn sites and are again washed and disinfected as they leave the landfill site once they have been emptied.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the waste material derived from foot-and-mouth disease infected carcasses is being burnt at temperatures high enough to kill any toxins produced by the carcasses.

Ross Finnie: The pyre ash generated by the three mass burn sites used during the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in Dumfries and Galloway and the Borders is material resultant from the cremation of animals which did not have foot-and-mouth disease but were on farms contiguous to an infected premises.

  The pyres achieved an extremely efficient burn rate and analysis of the ash has shown that the material poses no environmental or public health risk if disposed of at a suitably licensed engineered landfill site.

General Practitioners

Mr Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to investigate the representations made by Helmsdale Community Council to Highland Primary Health Care NHS Trust regarding a lack of general practitioner services in the area and what action will be taken on this matter.

Malcolm Chisholm: Questions as to the adequacy of the provision of general medical services in any area are for the Scottish Medical Practices Committee in conjunction with Islands NHS Boards and Primary Care Trusts. I understand that the vacancy created when the GP who provided services to Helmsdale left earlier this year was filled on 1 September 2001.

Genetically Modified Crops

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it cost to police each of the farms involved in the GM farm-scale trials currently taking place at Daviot, Rothienorman and Munlochy.

Mr Jim Wallace: The information requested is not held centrally.

Genetically Modified Crops

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what herbicides and other chemicals are being used in the GM farm-scale trials at Daviot, Rothienorman and Munlochy.

Ross Finnie: The variety of GM oilseed rape currently being grown in the farm scale trials in Scotland has been modified to be tolerant to glufosinate ammonium (LibertyÔ ). The Scottish Executive does not hold details of other chemicals and herbicides used by the farmers since this is not a requirement of the deliberate release consent.

  Other crop treatments that the farmers choose to use will be commercially available, with necessary regulatory approvals for use in UK agriculture.

Genetically Modified Crops

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken arising from the discovery of GM contamination in wild maize in Mexico.

Ross Finnie: The recently published research on this issue will be referred to the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) for expert advice. When ACRE present their advice the Scottish Executive will consider it in the context of the farm scale evaluation programme and of policy development on GM crops generally.

  Scottish Executive policy towards GM crops places priority on the protection of human health and the environment.

Genetically Modified Crops

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on whether one of the genetically modified oil-seed rape plants being grown in the field trial at Roskil Farm on the Black Isle has flowered several months ahead of the normal flowering time and, if this has happened, whether it was the result of genetically instability in the plant caused by genetic engineering.

Ross Finnie: Following a site visit, the Scottish Executive can confirm that a plant within the GM oil-seed rape crop growing at Tullich field has flowered, as has an oil-seed rape plant among the non-GM control crop. On the GM side of the field, this represents one plant amidst an estimated 6.7 million GM oil-seed rape plants and does not enable definitive conclusions to be drawn. Although it is premature for rape plants to flower at this time of year, this phenomenon has been experienced in many plants this winter following a period of uncharacteristically mild weather. The GM Inspectorate monitor all of the release sites in Scotland to ensure that the terms of each consent are complied with and that any developments which may pose a threat to the environment are identified.

Health

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made with the investigations into the use of lead solder in drinking water pipe-work in domestic residences and when it will publish any reports on this matter.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health published a report detailing the findings of Stage 1 of the survey, in November 2000.

  The data for Stage 2 of the survey has been collected and is being analysed. A report will be published in the new year.

Health

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty's Government about improving the warning of side effects on the label carried by the acne drug Isotretinoin for the benefit of GPs and patients and, if it has not, whether it will make such representations

Malcolm Chisholm: The Executive has not made any such representations and has no plans to do so.

  The Medicines Control Agency continuously monitors the safety of all medicines. If new side effects are detected, the product information is updated to ensure it contains all of the available information to aid the safe use of the medicine. The adverse reactions known to be associated with Roaccutane treatment are fully described in the product information, which consists of a Summary of Product Characteristic for healthcare professionals and a Patient Information Leaflet for patients.

Health

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what support is available for the creation of locally based specialist eating disorder services.

Malcolm Chisholm: It is for health services and local authorities to work together to organise eating disorders services that meet the assessed needs of their area. To aid local considerations we have published a template for the best organisation of eating disorder services.

  The template guidance acknowledges the specialist support networks, knowledge and advice available through organisations such as the Scottish Eating Disorder Interest Group, Health Education Board for Scotland and other specialist voluntary and professional organisations. Planners are also encouraged to respond positively to the views of service users and carers whose insights are particularly relevant in the planning of services.

Health

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been diagnosed as having Amyotorphic Lateral Sclerosis since 1991 to date and what percentage of those who are have been so diagnosed are veterans of the Gulf War.

Malcolm Chisholm: Information on the incidence of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Motor Neurone Disease, in Scotland from 1991, broken down by age and sex, is given in the following tables.

  Information on veterans of the Gulf War is not held by the Executive.

  Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) (Motor Neurone Disease) – number of patients by sex, age and year of admission

  


Males 
  



Age Group 
  

1991 
  

1992 
  

1993 
  

1994 
  

1995 
  

1996 
  

1997 
  

1998 
  

1999 
  

2000 
  

Total 
  



0-4 
  

2 
  

1 
  

3 
  

4 
  

6 
  

1 
  

2 
  

1 
  

0 
  

1 
  

21 
  



5-9 
  

1 
  

1 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

2 
  

1 
  

5 
  



10-14 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

3 
  

0 
  

1 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

4 
  



15-19 
  

1 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

1 
  

1 
  

0 
  

0 
  

1 
  

4 
  



20-24 
  

0 
  

0 
  

1 
  

3 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

4 
  



25-29 
  

2 
  

0 
  

1 
  

1 
  

1 
  

1 
  

2 
  

1 
  

1 
  

1 
  

11 
  



30-34 
  

0 
  

2 
  

0 
  

1 
  

1 
  

4 
  

1 
  

2 
  

3 
  

1 
  

15 
  



35-39 
  

2 
  

4 
  

5 
  

4 
  

2 
  

1 
  

0 
  

2 
  

1 
  

3 
  

24 
  



40-44 
  

0 
  

5 
  

4 
  

3 
  

3 
  

1 
  

1 
  

4 
  

2 
  

7 
  

30 
  



45-49 
  

5 
  

7 
  

4 
  

3 
  

8 
  

6 
  

9 
  

4 
  

3 
  

4 
  

53 
  



50-54 
  

7 
  

10 
  

7 
  

5 
  

3 
  

9 
  

7 
  

6 
  

9 
  

9 
  

72 
  



55-59 
  

11 
  

10 
  

10 
  

11 
  

10 
  

12 
  

12 
  

16 
  

13 
  

12 
  

117 
  



60-64 
  

17 
  

16 
  

10 
  

19 
  

11 
  

10 
  

20 
  

11 
  

7 
  

13 
  

134 
  



65-69 
  

17 
  

24 
  

28 
  

12 
  

27 
  

12 
  

23 
  

16 
  

19 
  

16 
  

194 
  



70-74 
  

23 
  

30 
  

17 
  

17 
  

22 
  

20 
  

20 
  

21 
  

15 
  

26 
  

211 
  



75-79 
  

20 
  

16 
  

12 
  

10 
  

21 
  

14 
  

17 
  

20 
  

24 
  

20 
  

174 
  



80-84 
  

12 
  

13 
  

11 
  

16 
  

12 
  

14 
  

8 
  

9 
  

9 
  

4 
  

108 
  



85+ 
  

4 
  

6 
  

1 
  

4 
  

6 
  

5 
  

6 
  

13 
  

6 
  

5 
  

56 
  



All ages 
  

124 
  

145 
  

114 
  

116 
  

133 
  

112 
  

129 
  

126 
  

114 
  

124 
  

1,237 
  



  


Females 
  



Age Group 
  

1991 
  

1992 
  

1993 
  

1994 
  

1995 
  

1996 
  

1997 
  

1998 
  

1999 
  

2000 
  

Total 
  



0-4 
  

0 
  

1 
  

2 
  

4 
  

0 
  

1 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

4 
  

12 
  



5-9 
  

1 
  

0 
  

0 
  

1 
  

1 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

1 
  

1 
  

5 
  



10-14 
  

1 
  

0 
  

2 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

1 
  

0 
  

2 
  

6 
  



15-19 
  

0 
  

0 
  

1 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

1 
  

0 
  

2 
  



20-24 
  

0 
  

0 
  

1 
  

1 
  

1 
  

1 
  

0 
  

1 
  

3 
  

0 
  

8 
  



25-29 
  

2 
  

1 
  

0 
  

2 
  

0 
  

1 
  

1 
  

1 
  

0 
  

0 
  

8 
  



30-34 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

1 
  

1 
  

0 
  

1 
  

3 
  



35-39 
  

2 
  

1 
  

1 
  

1 
  

3 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

1 
  

0 
  

9 
  



40-44 
  

1 
  

3 
  

1 
  

2 
  

1 
  

1 
  

0 
  

1 
  

2 
  

6 
  

18 
  



45-49 
  

1 
  

5 
  

4 
  

3 
  

1 
  

2 
  

0 
  

1 
  

2 
  

1 
  

20 
  



50-54 
  

4 
  

6 
  

6 
  

3 
  

4 
  

8 
  

4 
  

3 
  

5 
  

5 
  

48 
  



55-59 
  

5 
  

6 
  

8 
  

8 
  

7 
  

7 
  

9 
  

7 
  

5 
  

4 
  

66 
  



60-64 
  

12 
  

14 
  

11 
  

6 
  

8 
  

12 
  

5 
  

13 
  

9 
  

19 
  

109 
  



65-69 
  

14 
  

19 
  

15 
  

16 
  

15 
  

15 
  

11 
  

17 
  

16 
  

10 
  

148 
  



70-74 
  

17 
  

22 
  

14 
  

22 
  

10 
  

14 
  

22 
  

25 
  

11 
  

15 
  

172 
  



75-79 
  

17 
  

13 
  

8 
  

14 
  

9 
  

10 
  

10 
  

20 
  

14 
  

16 
  

131 
  



80-84 
  

7 
  

10 
  

12 
  

9 
  

14 
  

13 
  

12 
  

9 
  

11 
  

5 
  

102 
  



85+ 
  

5 
  

7 
  

9 
  

8 
  

4 
  

9 
  

15 
  

21 
  

12 
  

8 
  

98 
  



All ages 
  

89 
  

108 
  

95 
  

100 
  

78 
  

94 
  

90 
  

121 
  

93 
  

97 
  

965 
  



  


Both Sexes 
  



Age Group 
  

1991 
  

1992 
  

1993 
  

1994 
  

1995 
  

1996 
  

1997 
  

1998 
  

1999 
  

2000 
  

Total 
  



0-4 
  

2 
  

2 
  

5 
  

8 
  

6 
  

2 
  

2 
  

1 
  

0 
  

5 
  

33 
  



5-9 
  

2 
  

1 
  

0 
  

1 
  

1 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  

3 
  

2 
  

10 
  



10-14 
  

1 
  

0 
  

2 
  

3 
  

0 
  

1 
  

0 
  

1 
  

0 
  

2 
  

10 
  



15-19 
  

1 
  

0 
  

1 
  

0 
  

0 
  

1 
  

1 
  

0 
  

1 
  

1 
  

6 
  



20-24 
  

0 
  

0 
  

2 
  

4 
  

1 
  

1 
  

0 
  

1 
  

3 
  

0 
  

12 
  



25-29 
  

4 
  

1 
  

1 
  

3 
  

1 
  

2 
  

3 
  

2 
  

1 
  

1 
  

19 
  



30-34 
  

0 
  

2 
  

0 
  

1 
  

1 
  

4 
  

2 
  

3 
  

3 
  

2 
  

18 
  



35-39 
  

4 
  

5 
  

6 
  

5 
  

5 
  

1 
  

0 
  

2 
  

2 
  

3 
  

33 
  



40-44 
  

1 
  

8 
  

5 
  

5 
  

4 
  

2 
  

1 
  

5 
  

4 
  

13 
  

48 
  



45-49 
  

6 
  

12 
  

8 
  

6 
  

9 
  

8 
  

9 
  

5 
  

5 
  

5 
  

73 
  



50-54 
  

11 
  

16 
  

13 
  

8 
  

7 
  

17 
  

11 
  

9 
  

14 
  

14 
  

120 
  



55-59 
  

16 
  

16 
  

18 
  

19 
  

17 
  

19 
  

21 
  

23 
  

18 
  

16 
  

183 
  



60-64 
  

29 
  

30 
  

21 
  

25 
  

19 
  

22 
  

25 
  

24 
  

16 
  

32 
  

243 
  



65-69 
  

31 
  

43 
  

43 
  

28 
  

42 
  

27 
  

34 
  

33 
  

35 
  

26 
  

342 
  



70-74 
  

40 
  

52 
  

31 
  

39 
  

32 
  

34 
  

42 
  

46 
  

26 
  

41 
  

383 
  



75-79 
  

37 
  

29 
  

20 
  

24 
  

30 
  

24 
  

27 
  

40 
  

38 
  

36 
  

305 
  



80-84 
  

19 
  

23 
  

23 
  

25 
  

26 
  

27 
  

20 
  

18 
  

20 
  

9 
  

210 
  



85+ 
  

9 
  

13 
  

10 
  

12 
  

10 
  

14 
  

21 
  

34 
  

18 
  

13 
  

154 
  



All ages 
  

213 
  

253 
  

209 
  

216 
  

211 
  

206 
  

219 
  

247 
  

219 
  

224 
  

2,202 
  



  Note:

  The tables are created from the SMR1 (Scottish Morbidity Records 1) linked dataset maintained by the Information and Statistics Division (ISD) Scotland. SMR1 records record all non-obstetric and non-psychiatric discharges from NHS hospitals in Scotland. Probability matching methods have been used to link together individual hospital records for each patient, thereby creating "linked" patient histories.

  Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is defined as motor neurone disease: ICD-9: 335.2 & ICD-10: G12.2 and may not be exclusively ALS. Incident cases are defined as the first occurrence of the disease with screening back to 1991. Patients can appear only once and are defined in the first year of occurrence of their condition.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how the £500,000 funding for community pharmacies announced in its news release SE4085/2001 on 1 October 2001 will be distributed.

Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is given in the Annex to NHS Circular PCA(P)(2001)6 issued by the department on 27 September 2001, a copy of which is available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 18190).

Health

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase family involvement in patient care in the NHS.

Malcolm Chisholm: As Patient Focus and Public Involvement requires, patients - and those that care for them - must be involved in decisions about their own care and about the health services they use. The involvement of members of family groups, many of whom play a vital carer role, is a key element of this work.

  In particular, the Executive also supports the development of targeted initiatives, like Partners in Policymaking, specifically designed to enable the families of disabled children to become fully involved in decisions about their care. The Clinical Standards Board for Scotland similarly involves family members in their work on developing standards for care in NHSScotland.

Hearing Aids

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive in which health board areas can people buy digital hearing aids at a reduced rate.

Malcolm Chisholm: Digital hearing aids are available to NHSScotland through contracts centrally negotiated by Scottish Healthcare Supplies, an NHS body and division of the Common Service Agency. Aids sourced through these contracts are not available for sale to patients.

Hospital Acquired Infection

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-19911 by Malcolm Chisholm on 12 December 2001, what its future targets are for yearly reductions in hospital acquired infections in the NHS.

Malcolm Chisholm: Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change makes clear that every NHS Trust is expected to have in place an infection control policy. In addition, the NHS will adhere to infection control standards established by the Clinical Standards Board for Scotland (CSBS). The board will arrange regular reviews of performance against these standards, and the results will be published. It is the responsibility of NHS Boards and trusts to ensure that action is taken to address any deficiencies identified. Follow-up reviews of performance will be arranged by CSBS.

Hospitals

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the timetable now is for completion of the new hospital facilities at Stonehouse, Lanarkshire.

Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20246 on 17 December 2001.

Hospitals

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many hospital bed spaces are available in the event of major emergencies occurring, broken down by health board.

Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is not held centrally. However, NHS Scotland has contingency plans in place in every NHS board for dealing with major emergencies, and these plans are reviewed and exercised regularly. They include arrangements for making available hospital beds for treating casualties and for mutual assistance where the resources of more than one NHS board area would be required to deal with a particular incident.

Hospitals

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Public/Private Partnership contract for the new Wishaw Hospital requires Lanarkshire Health Board or the relevant NHS Trust to maintain a specific bed occupancy in the hospital and whether the board or the trust could face any financial penalties should they fail to do so.

Malcolm Chisholm: Neither Wishaw Hospital nor Lanarkshire NHS Board are required to maintain specific bed occupancy nor would either face any financial penalties if they failed to do so.

Hospitals

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what resources and new equipment have been allocated to the Glasgow Royal Infirmary in the period since 21 March 2001 following the review of imaging facilities.

Malcolm Chisholm: I am advised by Greater Glasgow NHS Board that in excess of £3 million has been invested in imaging equipment at Glasgow Royal Infirmary since March 2001. This includes a new ultrasound scanner, a new CT scanner, refurbished X-ray facilities, the replacement of screening equipment and a gamma camera.

  In addition, the Cancer Plan for Greater Glasgow indicates that almost £1 million capital and £0.4 million revenue of extra resources will be invested in imaging services across the city in 2001-02.

Hospitals

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received regarding the proposed closure of St Mary’s Hospital, Lanark.

Malcolm Chisholm: We have received one such representation.

Hospitals

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Lanarkshire Health Board regarding the proposed closure of St Mary’s Hospital, Lanark and what consideration has been given to the support locally for the hospital’s retention.

Malcolm Chisholm: The proposed closure of St Mary’s Hospital is a matter for local negotiation. We understand that representatives from South Lanarkshire Council and NHS Lanarkshire recently attended a meeting with the Management Committee of St Mary’s Hospital to discuss the practicalities of the proposed closure.

Hospitals

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is on the closure of local hospital and respite services which have the support of local communities.

Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-21085. In such instances, commissioners of care services should negotiate with care providers at local level, taking into account the wishes of local people.

Hospitals

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how hospital managers’ salaries at the North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust are structured and whether those salaries and any bonuses are dependent on throughput targets being met by the hospitals.

Malcolm Chisholm: Chief executives, executive directors and senior management in NHSScotland are subject to the Executive Pay arrangements. Under these arrangements management posts are job evaluated and the integrity of the job evaluation process is maintained by a central evaluation committee. Individuals are appointed to a grade and are able to progress through the pay range, subject to fully acceptable performance. Managers' performance is assessed on the basis of achievement of aims and objectives set by the employer, taking account of national and local priorities.

Housing

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it provides to prospective homeowners who currently rent from a registered social landlord or local authority on the maintenance requirements of owning a home.

Iain Gray: The Scottish Executive has published a booklet, Your right to buy your home , which all prospective homeowners considering the right to buy option are encouraged to read. This contains a section on the additional costs of buying your home, including advice on the repair, maintenance and associated responsibilities attached to buying a property. This booklet is available from landlords, local citizens’ advice centres and the Scottish Executive.

  The Scottish Executive has also recently published two further booklets which are specifically aimed at prospective house purchasers including those who currently rent from a registered social landlord or local authority:

  Thinking about buying attempts to answer many of the questions potential homebuyers are confronted with, including advice on the responsibilities which come with ownership.

  We are all responsible provides relevant advice to homeowners who share repair and maintenance responsibilities with their neighbours.

  Both booklets have been sent to local authorities, issued to a variety of interested organisations (with further copies available from the Scottish Executive) and have been placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre.

Housing

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) private sector houses, showing separately those built for rent and (b) public sector houses, broken down by (i) local authority and (ii) housing association, were built in Edinburgh in each year since 1997.

Iain Gray: The tables present separately (a) the total number of private sector new dwellings of that were completed in Edinburgh in each calendar year from 1997 to 2000, and (b) the total number of social sector dwellings that were completed in Edinburgh in each financial year from 1996-97 to 2000-01. Each table contains the latest years for which the information is available. Information on the number of private sector dwellings that were built specifically for rent is not held centrally.

  New Housebuilding in Edinburgh

  (a) Private Sector New Dwellings Completed: 1997 to 2000 (Calendar)

  


Period 
  

Private Sector 
  



1997 
  

1,325 
  



1998 
  

2,562 
  



1999 
  

2,457 
  



2000 
  

1,144 
  



  New Housebuilding in Edinburgh

  (b) Public Sector New Dwellings Completed: 1996-97 to 2000-01 (Financial)

  


Year 
  

Public Sector 
  



Housing 
  

Local 
  



Associations 
  

Authority 
  



1996-97 
  

546 
  

- 
  



1997-98 
  

559 
  

- 
  



1998-99 
  

345 
  

- 
  



1999-2000 
  

569 
  

- 
  



2000-01 
  

424 
  

-

Housing

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the report of the Housing Improvement Task Force will be published.

Ms Margaret Curran: The work of the Housing Improvement Task Force is in two stages. The first stage is now nearing completion and I expect the task force to publish the "issues" report for wider consultation in early 2002. The second stage of the work will be carried on throughout 2002 with the aim of agreeing a final report with conclusions and recommendations in 2003.

Housing

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-19641 by Mr Alasdair Morrison on 16 November 2001, when the research which it commissioned to help maximise employment opportunities from the housing stock transfer will be published.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The research commissioned by the Scottish Executive into construction skills gaps, designed to help maximise employment opportunities from housing stock transfer, will be published early in the new year.

Human Reproductive Cloning Act 2001

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in light of the English High Court judgement of 15 November 2001 that cloned embryos are not subject to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990, it has any powers or responsibilities in respect of human cloning and, if it does, why a Sewel motion was not lodged before the Human Reproductive Cloning Act 2001 was enacted.

Malcolm Chisholm: Human reproductive cloning is a reserved matter by virtue of section J3 of Part II of Schedule 5 to the Scotland Act 1998.

Justice

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the explanation is for the increase in the number of fiscal fines issued during the period October 2000 to September 2001.

Colin Boyd QC: Crown Office statistics show no discernible increase over this period. Natural fluctuations occur dependent on the numbers of cases suitable for Procurator Fiscal fines.

Justice

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to create a system of family courts.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive has no plans currently to create a system of family courts although court procedures do make special provision for the management of family actions.

Justice

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been offered a fiscal fine under section 302 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 in each of the last five years.

Colin Boyd QC: The figures are as follows, by financial year:

  


1996-97 
  

30,444 
  



1997-98 
  

36,201 
  



1998-99 
  

40,250 
  



1999-2000 
  

35,249 
  



2000-01 
  

34,945

Land Reform (Scotland) Bill

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures will be put in place to ensure that expenditure of public money on community land buy outs represents best value for money or delivers public benefits.

Mr Jim Wallace: Funding to assist community land purchases under the right to buy provisions of the forthcoming Land Reform (Scotland) Bill is likely to come from a variety of sources, both public and private. Where public funds are involved, the usual checks for value for money and public benefits will be applied.

  The draft Land Reform (Scotland) Bill states, in section 58, that ministers shall not consent to the community body proceeding to buy the registered land unless they are satisfied that what they propose to do with the land is compatible with the sustainable use and development of the land, and that the proposed purchase is in the public interest.

Landfill

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of disposed car tyres are disposed of in landfill sites.

Ross Finnie: Information on the website of the Used Tyre Working Group (available at www.tyredisposal.co.uk ) indicates that in the UK, in 1999, about 28% of used tyres were disposed of in landfill sites.

Landfill

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what publicly accessible specialist facilities for the environmentally safe disposal and recycling of dry cell and car batteries currently exist and where such facilities are located, broken down by local authority area.

Ross Finnie: No specialist facilities for the disposal or recycling of dry cell and car batteries currently exist in Scotland. Dry cell and car batteries that are collected and stored at metal recycling sites in Scotland are typically consigned to specialist facilities in England and Wales.

Legislation

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin & Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consultations have been held with the Government Actuary to determine the rate of return expected from the investment of a sum awarded as damages for future pecuniary loss in an action of damages for personal injury and when it will bring forward an order prescribing an assumed rate of return on investment of damages.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Executive has now received advice from the Government Actuary on determining the rate of return to be expected from the investment of such sums. The advice is being considered and a decision on the rate and the timing of an order prescribing the rate will be taken in the New Year.

Medical Training

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review the number of student radiographer places throughout Scotland.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive Health Department takes account of supply and demand indicators for the Professions Allied to Medicine (PAMs) in NHSScotland in order to influence the Higher Education Sector in the allocation of PAMs pre-registration student places. This includes the number of student radiographer places in Scotland.

Mental Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the National Discharge Protocol for Mentally Disordered Offenders will be published.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Protocol was issued as a draft for consultation in August, with responses requested by 18 October. These require to be considered carefully, and it is not clear when a final version will be available.

Ministerial Committees

Tricia Marwick (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many times and on what dates the Ministerial Working Group considering the report of the Working Group on Renewing Local Democracy met in the period from 1 September 2000 to 30 November 2001 and which ministers attended each meeting.

Peter Peacock: Three meetings of the Ministerial Working Group on Renewing Local Democracy were held during the period from 1 September 2000 to 30 November 2001 on 3 October, 13 November and 13 February. The membership of the committee was announced in July 2000 and comprised the First Minister, the Deputy First Minister, the Minister for Finance and Local Government, the Minister for Parliament, the Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning and the Minister for Rural Development.

Ministers

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many former Scottish ministers have claimed lump sum payments or pensions after leaving ministerial office since May 1999.

Mr Andy Kerr: Five former Scottish ministers and junior ministers who left office prior to 27 November 2001 have been paid the lump sum grant to which they are entitled on ceasing to hold office. Ministers and junior ministers who left office on 27 November will be paid their entitlements once the required three week period from ceasing to hold office has elapsed.

  The previous First Minister is in receipt of a pension payable immediately on his ceasing to be First Minister.

  Pensions payable under the Scottish Parliamentary Pension Scheme are not a matter for Scottish ministers.

NHS Funding

Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to re-appraise the Arbuthnott Index relating to mortality rates among people under 65 as one of the key indicators for the provision of health board funding under the Arbuthnott formula.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive currently has no plans to re-appraise any of the key indicators of the Arbuthnott Index. The mortality rate among people under 65 has long been recognised as a good indicator of the relative health of the population living in different areas of Scotland.

NHS Staff

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin & Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what advice, guidance or instructions it has given North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust and Greater Glasgow Health Board on the placement of recruitment advertisements in medical journals or other media for (a) locum consultant clinical oncologists and (b) permanent consultant clinical oncologists and what reports it has received from the Trust and the Board on the recruitment campaign and, in particular, the placing of the recruitment advertisements.

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin & Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what information or reports it has received on investigations made in respect of the recruitment of consultant clinical oncologists from Hong Kong or Australia as locum consultants for the Glasgow cancer service.

Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-19754 on 29 November 2001.

  In addition, I understand that advertisements have already been placed in relevant medical journals and that efforts are also being made to contact services across Europe and further afield to identify appropriate potential applicants.

NHS Trusts

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures are in place to measure compliance by NHS trusts in the labelling of medicinal products and associated package leaflets as required by Council Directive 92/27/EEC.

Malcolm Chisholm: Requirements for the provision of drug information leaflets to patients are reserved matters which come under the remit of the Medicines Control Agency. Directive 92/27/EEC was incorporated into UK law by the Medicines (Marketing Authorisations etc) Regulations 1994 and the Scottish Executive supports its aim of ensuring that patients receive full and useful information.

  There is no formal procedure in place to measure compliance with these requirements in the NHS. Pharmacists are expected to comply with the requirements and standards laid down by their professional body, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain.

NHS Waiting Lists

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any waiting lists have been closed, including any which have been subsequently re-opened, in any hospital in the Lothian Health Board area in 2001.

Malcolm Chisholm: It is unacceptable for patients who need treatment from an NHS consultant to be refused admission to the waiting list for consultation. I am assured by NHS Lothian that, other than the case in Lothian Primary Care Trust which was highlighted in early December, and which has now been addressed, there have been no instances of closed waiting lists in Lothian in 2001.

New Deal

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin & Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are employed by it under the New Deal for Young People.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive, its Agencies and Associated Departments currently employ 24 young people under the 18-24 element of the New Deal programme. A further 31 individuals are currently employed under the 25+, 50+ and Lone Parent elements of the programme.

New Deal

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin & Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being taken to increase the number of people employed by it under the New Deal for Young People.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive is keen to offer as many New Deal opportunities as possible and it meets with the Employment Service on a regular basis to promote its New Deal jobs. Recently the Executive held a very successful New Deal recruitment campaign in Edinburgh and Glasgow. The competition attracted 164 applications and 47 of those individuals were selected for appointment, (19 from the 18-24 element of the programme).

New Deal

Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many individuals who participated in the self-employment route of the New Deal have gone back to claiming benefit since the New Deal’s inception.

Ms Wendy Alexander: A distinct self-employment route has been available through New Deal 18-24 since its inception and through New Deal 25 plus since April 2001. The route consists of three stages with Stages 1 & 2 delivered in the Gateway and Stage 3 as part of the Employment Option or Intensive Activity Period (IAP) respectively. Prior to April individuals joining New Deal 25 plus and seeking to be self-employed could be referred to Training for Work (TfW). Clients participating in other New Deal programmes are also supported in moving into self-employment.

  Data is not available across all New Deals detailing the total number of individuals who have received New Deal self-employment support and returned to benefits. The information below may be helpful in giving an indication of outcomes.

  Three hundred and sixty six young people had followed the self-employment route through New Deal 18-24 up to the end of September 2001. Of these, 145 (45%) had returned to claiming JSA within 18 months.

  Published figures for the enhanced New Deal 25 plus are available from April 2001 – September 2001. Fourteen New Deal 25 plus clients have started mainstream self-employment provision and 20 clients have started New Deal for Musicians IAP self-employment provision. Data is not yet available regarding New Deal 25 plus clients returning to benefits from self-employment provision.

  Nine per cent of New Deal 50 plus clients, 557 individuals, claiming the employment credit on the basis of being of being self-employed (end September).

  One hundred and ninety three self-employed job entries in TfW in 2000-01. (96 to end September 2001).

Non-Domestic Rates

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to its news release SE5013/2001 on 11 December 2001, what financial impact the changes will have on the non-domestic rates burden of (a) Central Scotland Police, (b) NHS Forth Valley, (c) Stirling Council and (d) Clackmannanshire Council.

Mr Andy Kerr: The poundage supplement for ratepayers occupying property with a rateable value in excess of £25,000 will be fixed when the poundage figure is set for 2003-04. A provisional poundage figure for 2003-04 is likely to be announced in December 2003 and confirmed the following February.

Nursery Education

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin & Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the percentage of children under five years old in nursery places in each education authority in each year since 1994.

Cathy Jamieson: The following table shows the percentage of children under five years old in nursery places in each education authority for 2001. This was the first year for which an integrated census covering both pre-school education and daycare centres was carried out. Prior to that, figures for pre-school education centres were collected separately, and annually, from the figures from daycare services, which we collected on a three-yearly cycle. From previous data sets it is not possible to consistently identify nurseries and bring together the pre-school and daycare data for the period in question.

  Percentage of children in each local authority attending centres describing themselves as nurseries in the week of 29 January 2001

  


Age at 29 January 2001 
  

Under 1 year old 
  

1 year old 
  

2 years old 
  

3 years old 
  

4 years old 
  



Scotland 
  

4 
  

8 
  

15 
  

56 
  

89 
  



Aberdeen City 
  

7 
  

17 
  

24 
  

64 
  

96 
  



Aberdeenshire 
  

2 
  

4 
  

12 
  

29 
  

73 
  



Angus 
  

1 
  

4 
  

10 
  

42 
  

85 
  



Argyll & Bute 
  

2 
  

5 
  

12 
  

66 
  

84 
  



Clackmannanshire 
  

1 
  

3 
  

11 
  

67 
  

97 
  



Dumfries & Galloway 
  

2 
  

6 
  

10 
  

38 
  

82 
  



Dundee City 
  

2 
  

5 
  

11 
  

67 
  

94 
  



East Ayrshire 
  

3 
  

5 
  

10 
  

47 
  

88 
  



East Dunbartonshire 
  

5 
  

8 
  

11 
  

62 
  

77 
  



East Lothian 
  

2 
  

4 
  

10 
  

56 
  

93 
  



East Renfrewshire 
  

3 
  

8 
  

17 
  

55 
  

99 
  



Edinburgh, City of 
  

9 
  

16 
  

24 
  

67 
  

100 
  



Eilean Siar 
  

4 
  

9 
  

16 
  

28 
  

36 
  



Falkirk 
  

2 
  

6 
  

10 
  

50 
  

93 
  



Fife 
  

3 
  

6 
  

11 
  

53 
  

94 
  



Glasgow City 
  

4 
  

9 
  

15 
  

66 
  

94 
  



Highland 
  

3 
  

5 
  

10 
  

39 
  

84 
  



Inverclyde 
  

2 
  

6 
  

11 
  

60 
  

73 
  



Midlothian 
  

3 
  

4 
  

8 
  

63 
  

92 
  



Moray 
  

1 
  

2 
  

6 
  

34 
  

65 
  



North Ayrshire 
  

2 
  

5 
  

17 
  

51 
  

88 
  



North Lanarkshire 
  

2 
  

4 
  

14 
  

62 
  

84 
  



Orkney Islands 
  

2 
  

8 
  

9 
  

71 
  

78 
  



Perth & Kinross 
  

6 
  

11 
  

23 
  

69 
  

96 
  



Renfrewshire 
  

5 
  

13 
  

23 
  

67 
  

83 
  



Scottish Borders 
  

1 
  

6 
  

18 
  

56 
  

83 
  



Shetland Islands 
  

1 
  

2 
  

7 
  

41 
  

77 
  



South Ayrshire 
  

6 
  

10 
  

19 
  

63 
  

92 
  



South Lanarkshire 
  

5 
  

13 
  

22 
  

59 
  

87 
  



Stirling 
  

8 
  

15 
  

25 
  

59 
  

96 
  



West Dunbartonshire 
  

4 
  

9 
  

18 
  

59 
  

95 
  



West Lothian 
  

3 
  

6 
  

16 
  

46 
  

94 
  



  Notes:

  1. Participation figures are taken from the January 2001 Census of Children's Daycare and Pre-School Education, as reported by individual centres. In order to give the most complete picture possible, figures from the census have been grossed up to take account of non-response. Some alterations and imputations were also made to compensate for problems caused by incomplete or incorrect data.

  2. Centres were asked to select the facility type (one only from nursery, playgroup, playscheme, out of school care club, crèche or family centre) which best suited them. Centres included here are those which described themselves as nurseries; these centres may also offer other services e.g. nurseries with crèche facilities. Centres offering nursery services which have not described themselves as predominantly nurseries are not included here.

  3. Centres reported all children attending at any time during census week. As the census was carried out at individual centre level, any child attending more than one centre during census week will have been counted more than once. For example, if a child attended two centres, that child will have been counted once by each centre. For this reason, actual participation rates may be lower than they appear here.

  4. The local authority figures relate to the geographical location of each centre, rather than the area in which attending children live. Children may attend centres in local authority areas away from their homes. For example, a child living in a rural area may attend a nursery in the city in which a parent or guardian works.

  5. Population figures are taken from the General Register Office (Scotland) mid-year estimates for 2000.

Nursery Nurses

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it is having with COSLA and trade unions with regard to the terms and conditions of employment of nursery nurses.

Cathy Jamieson: The pay and conditions of nursery nurses are a matter for their employers, whether local authorities or operators in the private or voluntary sector. The Executive has no role in these negotiations. As part of wider discussions on childcare workforce development issues, COSLA has recently updated officials on the review of pay and conditions of nursery nurses being carried out under the Single Status Agreement.

Nursery Nurses

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on national standardised terms and conditions for the employment of nursery nurses by local authorities and what consultation it undertook prior to reaching that position.

Cathy Jamieson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20777 on 3 January 2002.

  Under the Single Status Agreement negotiated between local authority employers and relevant trades unions, the pay and conditions of almost all local government employees are being reviewed. A consequence of the agreement is that terms and conditions, including hourly rates of pay, will be set locally, taking account of the relative value placed upon jobs and the pay budget set by individual authorities.

Occupational Health

Mr Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take in response to the Health and Safety Executive’s report Cancer Among Current and Previous Workers at National Semiconductor (UK) Ltd, Greenock .

Malcolm Chisholm: Occupational health and safety is a reserved matter.

  The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) now plans to undertake follow-up work to look more closely at individual worker histories at National Semiconductor (UK) Ltd in Greenock. The Scottish Executive has already expressed a willingness to help with that research, which will have to take account of factors unrelated to work.

  HSE will also encourage all semiconductor companies operating in the UK to initiate studies of their workforces. Again, the Scottish Executive will support that work, appropriately.

  The Scottish Executive is committed to working with the industry, through Scottish Enterprise and Electronics Scotland, in order to ensure the long term sustainability of the electronics industry as a whole in Scotland.

Occupational Health

Mr Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps will be taken to prepare local GPs and other health service professionals to deal with any increase in workload resulting from the publication of the Health and Safety Executive’s report Cancer Among Current and Previous Workers at National Semiconductor (UK) Ltd, Greenock .

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive recognised that NHS staff throughout Scotland, particularly GPs in and around Greenock, might be consulted following the publication of the Health and Safety Executive’s report Cancer Among Current and Previous Workers at National Semiconductor (UK) Ltd, Greenock . As such, the Scottish Executive ensured that they were aware of this study, and had the information they might need to deal with specific concerns or symptoms presented by patients.

  NHS Boards do not need to make special arrangements for healthcare delivery based on this report. Cancer in Scotland, published in July 2001, sets out a comprehensive range of measures designed to provide swifter, better diagnosis, treatment and care.

Occupational Health

Mr Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a further study to establish any causal link between the working environment and cancer rates in the semiconductor industry should be carried out without delay following the publication of the Health and Safety Executive’s report Cancer Among Current and Previous Workers at National Semiconductor (UK) Ltd, Greenock , and who should be involved in the design of any such study.

Malcolm Chisholm: Occupational health and safety is a reserved matter, and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has already initiated the planning of follow-up work to look more closely at individual employment and exposure histories in relevant current and former workers at National Semiconductor (UK) Ltd in Greenock. This further research will seek to establish cause. The Scottish Executive has already indicated a willingness to help design and complete that research, particularly as it will have to take into account factors unrelated to work.

  HSE will also encourage all semiconductor companies operating in the UK to initiate studies of their workforces.

Occupational Health

Mr Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that the views of the non-unionised workforce will be taken into account in any action it undertakes as a result of the Health and Safety Executive’s report Cancer Among Current and Previous Workers at National Semiconductor (UK) Ltd, Greenock .

Malcolm Chisholm: Occupational health and safety is a reserved matter.

  The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has already outlined to the workforce its plans to take action as a result of its study into cancer at National Semiconductor (UK) Ltd, Greenock. HSE will also seek the approval of the workforce for a detailed protocol, when it has been developed.

  There is a dedicated helpline for workers and ex-employees, to help them to contact HSE directly with their views and concerns. There will be regular direct contact with the workforce by HSE as further work is progressed.

Parliamentary Questions

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S1W-19322, S1W-19323, S1W-19324, S1W-19325, S1W-19236, S1W-19327, S1W-19328, S1W-19329 and S1W-19330, by Ms Wendy Alexander on 6 November 2001, and to question S1W-5623 by Henry McLeish on 10 April 2000, at what date it ceased to collect and hold such information centrally.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The information provided in response to question S1W-5623 was collected from reports in the daily Scottish newspapers. In November 2001, we reviewed the robustness of this information and considered that as the Executive could not vouch for its accuracy or completeness it should not form the basis of the responses to questions S1W-19322 to 19330. But I apologise for not explaining that in the answers.

Physical Education

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-18975 by Mr Jack McConnell on 6 November 2001, whether it has yet set a date to announce the results of the information-gathering exercise on the provision of school swimming lessons.

Nicol Stephen: We are currently pursuing some outstanding responses to the questionnaire issued to local authorities on 16 November. I will report on the outcome of the questionnaire early next year once all responses have been analysed.

Planning

Mr Keith Harding (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-4905 by Lewis Macdonald on 15 November 2001, whether it has received any representations from organisations in, or residents of, Stirling, Clackmannanshire or Perth and Kinross regarding its consultation document Review of Strategic Planning .

Iain Gray: Yes. We have received four representations from the Stirling area; two from Clackmannanshire, and five from Perth and Kinross on the proposals in the Review of Strategic Planning consultation paper.

  All responses are available for viewing in the Parliament's Reference Centre.

Planning

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin & Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what targets it sets for local authorities in the determination of major industrial, commercial and residential planning applications.

Iain Gray: The performance targets targets set for planning authorities are detailed in National Planning Policy Guideline No1: The Planning System.  They include the target of determining 80% of major applications within four months.

Planning

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin & Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what targets it sets for local authorities in the determination of minor industrial, commercial and residential planning applications.

Iain Gray: No specific targets are set for minor applications. The general targets of 80% of all planning applications to be determined within two months, and 85% within three months, apply.

Policy Making

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin & Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what input it is making to the work on knowledge pools undertaken by the Centre for Management and Policy Studies.

Mr Andy Kerr: Scottish Executive officials are working with the Cabinet Office Centre for Management and Policy Studies on a wide range of projects, including the Policy Makers’ Knowledge Pool, to encourage exchange of best practice throughout the UK Government and devolved administrations.

Policy Making

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin & Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what input it is making to the work on knowledge pools undertaken by the Performance and Innovation Unit’s Strategic Futures Project.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive currently has no input to this work.

Policy Making

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin & Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what input it is making to the work on knowledge pools undertaken by the Excellence in Policy Making Network.

Mr Andy Kerr: Scottish Executive officials are working with the Cabinet Office Centre for Management and Policy Studies on a wide range of projects, including the Policy Makers’ Knowledge Pool, to encourage exchange of best practice throughout the UK Government and devolved administrations.

Pre-School Education

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has issued good practice guidance common to all local authorities regarding the criteria for the exercise of local authority discretion over the provision of additional pre-school education for children born between September and December whose parents are considering deferral.

Cathy Jamieson: On 28 November the General Secretary of ADES issued guidance to all Directors of Education on local authorities’ use of discretion over the provision of additional pre-school education for children born between September and December whose parents are considering deferral. This is in line with the recommendations of the Working Group on deferrals set up by ministers in July 2000.

Prescription Charges

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to replace the criteria for assessing diseases that currently apply for exemption from prescription charges with criteria which have more regard to the clinical needs of chronically ill patients.

Malcolm Chisholm: None. We will, however, shortly be commissioning research into the evidence available on the patient charging systems and what effect they have on the equity of access for and use of treatment; this research will help inform any future policy decisions on the charging systems.

Procurator Fiscal Service

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the people who declined an offer of a fiscal fine under section 302 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 were subsequently prosecuted in each of the last five years.

Colin Boyd QC: Cases marked for prosecution following the offer of a Procurator Fiscal fine are not separately identified in the records of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and the information sought, is, therefore, not available.

Procurator Fiscal Service

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people who failed to (a) pay fiscal fines in full and (b) pay instalments in respect of such fines timeously in each of the last five years have been proceeded against in the district court.

Colin Boyd QC: Cases marked for prosecution following the offer of a Procurator Fiscal fine are not separately identified in the records of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and the information sought is, therefore, not available.

Protection of Wrecks Act 1973

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what powers it has to secure an order under section 1 (4) of the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973 where designation of a wreck site is a matter of immediate urgency and what criteria are applied when considering whether such designation is a matter of immediate urgency.

Mike Watson: Where designation of a wreck site under section 1(1) and 1(2) of the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973 is a matter of immediate urgency Scottish ministers may dispense with the consultation provided for in section 1(4) and proceed to make the order. The criterion applied when considering whether such designation is a matter of immediate urgency would be where there was real concern that the wreck would be damaged or looted before the designation order came into force.

Public Transport

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin & Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had, or intends to have, with Her Majesty’s Government on European Union proposals for an EU standard for the construction of buses in so far as they relate to the numbers of persons permitted to stand on scheduled buses.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including European Union proposals.

Rail Network

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive on what date and by whom it was first informed that Railtrack plc was being considered for administration.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive has been in regular contact with the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions on a wide range of issues, including the decision to place Railtrack plc into administration, and regular contact continues on issues arising from that decision.

Rail Network

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what actions it has taken and representations it has made, specifying where appropriate to whom and on what date, in order to secure and protect the future delivery of the Larkhall to Milngavie rail link and whether any equivalent actions or representations have been taken or made in respect of the Stirling to Alloa rail link.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government, the Strategic Rail Authority, Strathclyde Passenger Transport and the rail industry about a wide range of issues. During these contacts we have stressed the importance of continuing development on these projects to Railtrack’s administrator, the Strategic Rail Authority and colleagues in the UK Government.

Rail Network

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-4094 by Sarah Boyack on 15 November 2001, what specific powers Scottish ministers have in relation to the rail industry in Scotland; whether it has received any representations regarding these powers from any government agency or external organisation and, if so, who the representations were from, on what date the representations were received and why the representations were made.

Lewis Macdonald: For the specific powers that Scottish ministers have in relation to the rail industry in Scotland, I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-19849 on 12 December 2001.

  As to the second part of this question, I refer the member to the answer given to question S1O-4094 on 15 November 2001. I receive representations from a wide range of interests about this and other issues relating to the rail industry in Scotland.

Rail Network

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in taking forward the Larkhall to Milngavie rail link.

Lewis Macdonald: On 27 August, the Executive announced it would be taking forward the Larkhall to Milngavie rail link in partnership with Strathclyde Passenger Transport (SPT) with the Executive providing £16 million of the £23 million total. The Executive is currently in discussions with SPT to explore options to keep the project moving forward without Railtrack involvement.

Rail Network

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Lord Advocate or any department within the Crown Office have been consulted on the proposed Stirling to Alloa Rail link and, if so, on what dates and for what reasons.

Lewis Macdonald: It would be inappropriate for the Executive to provide information which would harm the frankness and candour of discussion and advice, including between the Scottish Executive and legal advisers.

Rail Network

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin & Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have been held, or are planned, with the Strategic Rail Authority regarding its Strategic Plan in so far as it relates to rail services for Scotland.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the Strategic Rail Authority on a wide range of issues, including the Strategic Plan in so far as it relates to rail services for Scotland.

Rail Network

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what reduction in rail freight transport has taken place between Scotland and Europe since the SNCF restricted the number of freight trains passing through the Channel Tunnel on 7 November 2001.

Lewis Macdonald: Rail freight is a reserved matter. I understand, however, that incoming rail freight to Great Britain using the Channel Tunnel has been less than one third of the level prior to 7 November. However, information on the impact on through traffic between Scotland and continental Europe is not held centrally.

Rail Network

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what additional road transport has been generated in Scotland by SNCF’s restriction on the number of freight trains passing through the Channel Tunnel since 7 November 2001.

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what financial cost there has been to Scottish firms as a result of SNCF’s restriction on the number of trains passing through the Channel Tunnel since 7 November 2001.

Lewis Macdonald: The information requested is not held centrally.

Rail Network

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty’s Government to achieve relaxation of the restrictions on freight train traffic imposed on the Channel Tunnel by SNCF on 7 November 2001.

Lewis Macdonald: Both rail freight and European and international rail services are reserved matters. The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of rail issues, including freight services.

Rail Network

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to support improvement to the railway infrastructure in West Lothian.

Lewis Macdonald: Railway infrastructure projects may qualify for financial assistance from either the Scottish Executive’s Public Transport Fund (PTF) or Integrated Transport Fund (ITF). Bids under the PTF would have to satisfy eligibility criteria and compete with other bids, and those under the ITF would have to be considered by the Scottish Executive as being regionally or nationally strategic.

Rail Services

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made, or plans to make, to the Strategic Rail Authority or the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions regarding direct access to the Channel Tunnel from Scotland.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues including European and international rail services using the Channel Tunnel.

Renewable Energy

Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish details of its current research projects into wind energy production and whether it will consult with Her Majesty’s Government into the possibility of extending the national grid so that it can link into wind energy developments in the west of Scotland and the Highlands.

Ross Finnie: We published two reports on Scotland’s renewable energy resource on 10 December. The first outlined the huge scale of that resource, including onshore and offshore wind, marine energy and biomass. The second, related, report, into the Scottish electricity grid, found that there is enough existing capacity to allow our renewable energy targets under the Renewables Obligation (Scotland) to be met. Both reports are available on the Scottish Executive website.

  In addition, the Department of Trade and Industry recently initiated a concept study on a sub-sea electricity interconnector between north west Scotland, particularly the Western Isles, and the UK mainland. We await the outcome of that study with interest.

Renewable Energy

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin & Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the (a) amount in real terms and (b) percentage of research and development budgets funded from public sources which has been allocated to renewable energy projects.

Ross Finnie: The research and development (R&D) funding programme for renewable energy is reserved; the budget is held by DTI and has been increased recently. Over this and the next two years there is £55 million available for renewable R&D projects across the UK. Scottish developers and Scottish projects have received around £10 million in funding from this source over the last 10 years. We work to ensure that Scottish projects continue to benefit from the increased funding available.

Road Accidents

Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many road accidents resulting in deaths have occurred on trunk roads in the Grampian police area (a) in the current year to date and (b) in each of the last three years.

Lewis Macdonald: The number of road accidents resulting in deaths that have occurred on trunk roads in the Grampian Police area in the current year and in each of the last three years is as follows: -

  


Year 
  

No of Fatal Accidents 
  



1998 
  

13 
  



1999 
  

3 
  



2000 
  

12 
  



2001(Jan – Oct) 
  

8 
  



Total 
  

36

Road Accidents

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much was recovered by NHS Trusts or health boards from motorists following their admission to hospital for treatment following a road traffic accident in each year since 1997, broken down by health board area.

Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-16138 on 15 June 2001.

Road Safety

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin & Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what provision is made in the current financial year for campaigns against drink driving.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive provides funding to the Scottish Road Safety Campaign for the production of key road safety education materials and publicity campaigns. In the current financial year the campaign expects to spend about £200,000 on drink drive publicity and research into attitudes to drinking and driving.

Road Safety

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin & Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what provision is made in the current financial year for campaigns against drugged driving.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive provides funding to the Scottish Road Safety Campaign for the production of key road safety education materials and publicity campaigns. In the current financial year the campaign expects to spend about £180,000 on drug driving publicity.

Roads

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether those provisions of its contract with BEAR Scotland Ltd which govern the position in the event of the company’s failure to perform its obligations have been made public and are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answers given to questions S1W-18588 and S1W-18616 on the 11 October 2001 by the former Minister for Transport and Planning. As much of the contract as may be considered not to contain sensitive commercial information has been placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre.

Roads

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it stated that BEAR Scotland Ltd were "theoretically able to cope" with winter roads problems as reported in the Press and Journal on 14 November 2001 and, if so, whether this statement applies to any of the other winter contract provisions.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive approved a Winter Maintenance Plan which was scrutinised by the Performance Audit Group. This plan shows that BEAR is capable of complying with the requirements of the contract. Given the unpredictability of winter conditions, no provider of road maintenance services could guarantee to keep all roads for which they were responsible, clear at all times. The plan is based on contractual obligations and trunk road winter maintenance best practice. The requirements are broadly unchanged from previous contracts.

Roads

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to paragraph 2.10 of the Appendix to Annex A of Audit Scotland’s report The new trunk road contracts , whether any projected rise in costs of managing and maintaining the local road network will have any impact on other public services and, if so, whether it will give details of (a) each service affected and (b) any financial impact on each service in each local authority area.

Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20533, in response to publication of the Auditor General’s report.

Roads

Mr Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many road inspectors the Performance Audit Group, which monitors performance in the trunk road maintenance contracts, employs on the ground to physically monitor road gritting and snow clearing performance on trunk roads in the Highland Council area (a) on week days and (b) at weekends and what hours these inspectors work.

Lewis Macdonald: The Performance Audit Group employs eight field engineers for the whole trunk road network to monitor network conditions and maintenance activities including winter maintenance. Four field engineers, two in each of the North West and North East operating regions, are deployed during normal working hours. From time to time, outwith these normal working hours, they undertake specific assignments. Parts of the Highland Council area fall within both the North West and North East Units.

Roads

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many speed cameras were located in Edinburgh in each year since 1997.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive has funded three speed cameras on the trunk road network in the City of Edinburgh area, which were installed in 1997. Other cameras in Edinburgh are a matter for the City of Edinburgh Council.

Roads

Iain Smith (North-East Fife) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action the Performance Audit Group has taken in respect of the trunk roads maintenance contract for the Fife area in each of the last three months.

Iain Smith (North-East Fife) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Performance Audit Group last made a report to it in respect of the trunk roads maintenance contract for the Fife area.

Iain Smith (North-East Fife) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has requested a report from the Performance Audit Group in respect of the trunk roads maintenance contract for the Fife area in the last three months; what date any such request was made, and what response it received.

Lewis Macdonald: The Performance Audit Group (PAG) carries out auditing and monitoring of the activities of the Operating Company, BEAR Scotland Ltd, across the entire North East Unit, which includes Fife. However, the auditing and reporting is not carried out on a local authority boundary basis. A report, prepared by PAG, covering the first year of operation of the trunk road maintenance contracts will be published in summer 2002.

  In the week ending 7 December 2001 PAG was asked to report on the mobilisation by BEAR Scotland Ltd of the new operational depot at Lochgelly from which operations in Fife are undertaken. This audit was prompted by Fife Council’s decision to terminate its sub-contract to undertake winter and other operations for BEAR on 7 December 2001. The PAG report confirmed BEAR’s capability to undertake those winter maintenance activities previously sub-contracted to Fife Council.

Roads

Iain Smith (North-East Fife) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received in each of the last six months on the performance of BEAR Scotland Ltd in respect of the trunk roads maintenance contract in the Fife area and what action it has taken in response to each representation.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive is aware of only a limited number of representations regarding the performance of BEAR Scotland Ltd in respect of the trunk road maintenance contract in the Fife area. These are as follows:

  Early in the contract Fife Council raised concerns about the level of liaison between themselves and BEAR. Measures were implemented to improve liaison.

  An MSP wrote about unfinished work at the Bankhead Interchange. BEAR addressed this work.

  Several maintenance problems, including verge maintenance and street lighting, were identified by a local councillor in the Dundee Courier. All these issues have been resolved.

  A resident north of Glenrothes wrote in October to complain about the maintenance of a footpath. It was not possible to identify the footpath in question.

Roads

Iain Smith (North-East Fife) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many representations it has received on the adequacy of the gritting programme for trunk roads in the Fife area on 10 and 11 December 2001.

Lewis Macdonald: Scottish Executive officials are unaware of any representations having been received concerning the adequacy of the gritting programme for trunk roads in the Fife area on 10 and 11 December 2001.

Roads

Iain Smith (North-East Fife) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with Fife Council in respect of the trunk roads maintenance contract for the Fife area.

Lewis Macdonald: Scottish Executive officials have had a number of discussions with Fife Council including meetings on 9 and 10 August and 18 and 31 October, to discuss trunk road maintenance contract topics.

Roads

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin & Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it holds on the length of time taken by the planning system to deliver improvement schemes for Scotland’s motorways and other strategic roads.

Lewis Macdonald: The time taken to process motorways and strategic roads schemes from inception to delivery depends on a number of factors, including the complexity of the proposals, the number of objections received, the time taken at any public local inquiry and the need for any subsequent discussion, for example with landowners. Information on the time taken in all such cases is not held centrally.

Roads

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin & Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to ensure that the views of businesses, local enterprise companies and other social partners are given due weight in decisions about the provision of new roads.

Lewis Macdonald: The Executive actively seeks the views of business, local enterprise companies and other interests as part of the on-going process of consulting on major road projects. Recently there were public exhibitions of proposals for the Eastern Relief Road at Kincardine and the Fochabers- Mosstodloch Bypass on the A96. Business, industry, local enterprise companies and community interests are also closely involved in the transport corridor studies on the A8/M8, A80/M80 and the M74.

Roads

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-19992 by Lewis MacDonald on 11 December 2001, whether any aspects of the trunk road maintenance contracts have been varied or altered since 1 April 2001; if so, what variations have been made; whether the Executive has permitted Amey Highways Ltd and BEAR Scotland Ltd to make direct contact with the media without alteration to their respective contracts, and, if so, who gave authorisation for such direct contact to be made.

Lewis Macdonald: There have been a limited number of relatively minor changes to the trunk road maintenance contracts since 1 April 2001. The one alteration to the specification resulted from a requirement of the Scottish Executive to enhance the quality of driver information feeding into its National Driver Information and Control System (NADICS). In respect of the provisions dealing with media contact, revised procedures were agreed in writing between the Executive’s Director of Road Network Management and Maintenance Division, BEAR Scotland Ltd and Amey Highways Ltd and were put in place in October 2001.

Roads

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-7052 by Sarah Boyack on 19 June 2000, what the (a) net revenue expenditure on roads maintenance and (b) gross capital expenditure on the structural maintenance of roads has been in respect of each local authority in 2001-02.

Lewis Macdonald: The following table shows provisional figures provided by each local authority for the net revenue expenditure on roads and winter maintenance. However, although the Executive collects forecasts of capital expenditure on the structural maintenance of roads in the current year, we cannot at present provide this information in the detail requested.

  Roads & Road Lighting Budget Estimate 2001-02

  





Road Maintenance
(£0) 
  

Winter Maintenance
(£0) 
  



Aberdeen, City 
  

3,105 
  

1,561 
  



Aberdeenshire 
  

7,114 
  

3,835 
  



Angus 
  

2,528 
  

1,280 
  



Argyll and Bute 
  

6,615 
  

1,698 
  



Clackmannanshire 
  

678 
  

375 
  



Dumfries and Galloway 
  

6,170 
  

1,033 
  



Dundee 
  

2,425 
  

673 
  



East Ayrshire 
  

2,828 
  

1,089 
  



East Dunbartonshire 
  

2,625 
  

698 
  



East Lothian 
  

1,832 
  

720 
  



East Renfrewshire 
  

1,886 
  

450 
  



Edinburgh, City 
  

9,623 
  

872 
  



Eilean Siar 
  

3,225 
  

1,263 
  



Falkirk 
  

1,601 
  

1,141 
  



Fife 
  

5,795 
  

2,487 
  



Glasgow 
  

11,598 
  

1,723 
  



Highland 
  

5,998 
  

6,838 
  



Inverclyde 
  

1,504 
  

238 
  



Midlothian 
  

2,130 
  

635 
  



Moray 
  

£1,926 
  

£1,350 
  



North Ayrshire 
  

2,485 
  

430 
  



North Lanarkshire 
  

6,203 
  

1,832 
  



Orkney 
  

3,105 
  

718 
  



Perth and Kinross 
  

4,259 
  

1,960 
  



Renfrewshire 
  

6,239 
  

729 
  



Scottish Borders 
  

6,070 
  

1,465 
  



Shetland 
  

4,446 
  

1,007 
  



South Ayrshire 
  

3,831 
  

660 
  



South Lanarkshire 
  

11,795 
  

2,622 
  



Stirling 
  

2,433 
  

1,243 
  



West Dunbartonshire 
  

2,481 
  

574 
  



West Lothian 
  

4,017 
  

1,687 
  



Scotland 
  

138,570 
  

44,886 
  



  Note: The figures in this table are taken from local authorities' annual Provisional Outturn & Budget Estimate Return to the Scottish Executive.

  Figures do not include Capital From Current Revenue or any loan/leasing charges.

Rural Development

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-19962 by Allan Wilson on 11 December 2001, how much has been awarded to organisations in (a) Stirling district and (b) Clackmannanshire in each of the past five years under each of the three elements that make up the Scottish Rural Partnership Fund and how much was applied for in each case.

Allan Wilson: Prior to the 2000-01 round, applicants to the Scottish Rural Partnership Fund (SRPF) were not required to provide details of their local authority area to the department. This detail, coupled with the fact that electronic recording of application data was not undertaken, means that the information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. However, it is possible to give an answer that refers to the successful bids submitted by Stirling and Clackmannanshire districts for the 2000-01 and 2001-02 rounds.

  (a) Stirling District

  

 

2000-01
funding round 
  

2001-02
funding round 
  



Amount Applied for (£) 
  

£68,750 
  

£0 
  



Amount Applied for (£) 
  

£0 
  

£0 
  



Amount Applied for (£) 
  

£28,000 
  

£16,750 
  



  (b) Clackmannanshire

  

 

2000-01 funding round 
  

2001-02
funding round 
  



Amount Applied for (£) 
  

£0 
  

£0 
  



Amount Applied for (£) 
  

£0 
  

£0 
  



Amount Applied for (£) 
  

£0 
  

£100,000

Schools

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its current estimates are of the rate of return on capital in schools funded wholly or partly through the Private Finance Initiative.

Nicol Stephen: Information on individual projects is commercially confidential. However, the estimated average pre-tax Project Internal Rate of Return for those projects for which full financial information is held by the Scottish Executive is 7.01% (real) and 9.61% (nominal).

Scottish Executive Staff

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin & Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) deaf, (b) blind and (c) deafblind persons are employed by it and what percentage of its workforce they represent.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive employs:

  (a) 74 persons (0.5% of staff) with a self-declared hearing disability,

  (b) 90 persons (0.6% of staff) with a self-declared visual disability and

  (c) No figures are available on the number of deafblind staff employed.

Scottish Executive Staff

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin & Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many women are employed by it and what percentage of its workforce they represent.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive core departments employ 2,187 women, which represents 50% of the core workforce.

  The Scottish Executive as a whole, including agencies and associated departments, employs 6,168 women. This represents 41% of the total workforce.

Scottish Transport Group Pension Scheme

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in terms of the Code of Practice on Access to Scottish Executive Information , public interest in the issues relating to the Scottish Transport Group pension schemes and the winding up thereof outweighs any harm involved in disclosure of information and, if so, whether it will make public (a) all correspondence, records of verbal communication and other documents and communications between (i) the Executive and the trustees or their agents of the relevant pension schemes, (ii) the Executive and the Scotland Office and (iii) the Executive and Her Majesty's Government and (b) all advice which it has received in connection with the Scottish Transport Group pension schemes, the winding up thereof and the disposal of and entitlement to surplus funds therefrom.

Lewis Macdonald: No. It would not be appropriate for the Executive to disclose information which would harm the frankness and candour of discussion and advice, including between the Scottish Executive and UK Government and between the Executive and the Scottish Transport Group and the Trustees of the Scottish Transport Group pensions schemes.

  The Scottish Executive recognises the level of public interest regarding this matter. In this respect the Scottish Executive is therefore maintaining a website (www.scotland.gov.uk/transport/stgpf) with information on the matter of the ex-gratia payments and will update this when there are substantial developments to report. In addition, once the criteria for distributing ex-gratia payments have been finalised, details will be published in national newspapers.

Scottish Water

Fiona McLeod (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what method of valuation it plans to use for valuing the assets of the proposed Scottish Water at 1 April 2002 and how it plans to ensure that any such valuation represents a true and fair view of the organisation’s position at that date.

Ross Finnie: The basis of valuation to be applied in valuing the fixed assets transferred to the proposed Scottish Water is primarily a matter for the Board of Scottish Water and is a matter that will be discussed with the board in due course. The basis and resultant values will be subject to scrutiny by the auditors of Scottish Water who will be required to express an opinion on whether the accounts show a true and fair view of the state of affairs at the balance sheet date.

Scottish Water

Fiona McLeod (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any legal issues have been identified in respect of transfer of PFI projects in the water industry in preparation for the formation of the proposed Scottish Water.

Fiona McLeod (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any problems have been anticipated in respect of the transfer of PFI projects in the water industry in preparation for the formation of the proposed Scottish Water.

Ross Finnie: No. We are satisfied that the provisions being set out in the Water Industry (Scotland) Bill relating to the transfer of property and assets will cover contractual rights and duties and liabilities.

Scottish Water

Fiona McLeod (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any of its members or officials has attended any meetings of the partnership between the shadow form of Scottish Water and the trade unions and, if so, (a) on what dates those meetings were held, (b) what the outcomes of any such meetings were and (c) whether it will publish minutes of the meetings.

Ross Finnie: No, these meetings are arranged and attended by the Scottish Water Transition Partnership Group comprising water authority Human Resources staff and Union representatives.

Sites of Special Scientific Interest

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what Sites of Special Scientific Interest are located within 10 km of the GM farm-scale trials at Daviot, Rothienorman and Munlochy.

Ross Finnie: Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) undertake detailed examination of the environmental risk assessment submitted by the applicant for each proposed release site to ensure that the GM crop will pose no special threat to protected sites. This assessment includes consideration of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) in the vicinity of the proposed release site. SNH are satisfied that no SSSIs are directly threatened by any of the current farm-scale evaluations in Scotland.

  The following SSSIs are located within 10 km of the four GM farm-scale evaluations:

  


Grid reference 
  

Nearest village 
  

List of SSSIs within 10 km 
  



NJ 753 346 
  

Rothienorman 
  

Wartle Moss
Gight Woods
Red Moss, Oldtown
Windy Hills 
  



NJ 747 307 
  

Daviot 
  

Wartle Moss
Pitcaple and Legatsden Quarries
Hill of Barra 
  



NJ 756 274 
  

Daviot 
  

Pitcaple and Legatsden Quarries
Red Moss, Oldtown
Wartle Moss
Hill of Barra 
  



NH 654 545 
  

Munlochy 
  

Roskill
Munlochy Bay
Dam Wood
Monadh Mor
Beauly Firth
Braelangwell Wood
Cromarty Firth
Drummondreach Wood
Longman and Castle Stuart Bays
Lower River Conon
Rosemarkie to Shandwick Coast
The Dens

Teachers

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin & Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to promote teaching as a career.

Nicol Stephen: This year the Scottish Executive mounted the first ever major national teacher recruitment advertising campaign, with the twin objectives of improving the public perception of teaching as a worthwhile and rewarding career and increasing the number of talented people entering the profession.

  The success of the campaign in meeting its objectives will be judged firstly by monitoring the numbers of applicants for the 2002-03 academic session and secondly by monitoring changes in public perception, through a System 3 survey completed in November 2001 and currently under analysis.

Teachers

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin & Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to attract mature new entrants to teaching as a career.

Nicol Stephen: The recent teacher recruitment advertising campaign had the twin objectives of improving the perception of teaching as a worthwhile and rewarding career and increasing the numbers of talented people entering the teaching profession.

  All of the Scottish Executive’s teacher recruitment activity is designed to appeal to the widest possible range of potential teachers including mature new entrants. It should be noted that 70% of callers responding to the most recent campaign in October this year were in the 25 to 44 age group.

  The success of the campaign in meeting its objectives will be judged, firstly by monitoring the numbers of applicants for the 2002-03 academic session and secondly by monitoring changes in public perception, through a System 3 survey completed in November 2001 and currently under analysis.

Teachers

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin & Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to attract former teachers to return to teaching as a career.

Nicol Stephen: The recent teacher recruitment advertising campaign had the twin objectives of improving the perception of teaching as a worthwhile and rewarding career and increasing the numbers of talented people entering the teaching profession.

  All of the Scottish Executive’s teacher recruitment activity is designed to appeal to the widest possible range of potential teachers and this includes former teachers whose return to the profession would be welcomed.

Telecommunications

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin & Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what further research has been commissioned, or is contemplated, on the effects on health of mobile phone masts further to the Stewart Report.

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin & Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what specialisms in Scotland have been invited to participate in the scientific management committee assessing research proposals on the effects on health of mobile phone masts further to the Stewart Report.

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin & Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations have been made by it regarding participation in the scientific management committee assessing research proposals on the effects on health of mobile phone masts further to the Stewart Report.

Malcolm Chisholm: The research programme suggested by the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones will cost some £7 million, with £3.5 million coming from Government being matched by £3.5 million from the mobile phone industry. The Scottish Executive has agreed to contribute £150,000.

  The selection of projects has been in the hands of the independent Programme Management Committee (PMC) chaired by Sir William Stewart. No representations on membership of the PMC have been made.

  I understand an announcement of the results of projects to be funded under the first call for research proposals will be made soon. A second call has also recently been announced. The current membership of the PMC and other useful information can be found at website http://www.doh.gov.uk/mobilephones/research/index.htm.

Telecommunications

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-20231 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 6 December 2001, (a) how much it will cost to support the Atlantic fixed wireless network until 2 January 2002, (b) how the sum will be split between it and the Department of Trade and Industry, (c) what the arrangements are with the Department of Trade and Industry to provide such support and (d) how much the messaging service will cost.

Ms Wendy Alexander: A maximum of £550,000 has been made available to keep the Atlantic Telecom fixed wireless network running until 2 January 2002. The Scottish Executive and Department of Trade & Industry have agreed to split the final costs equally.

  The cost of the messaging service is negligible and covered by overall running costs.

Tourism

Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport has to make a ministerial statement to the Parliament on the current situation in the tourism industry.

Mike Watson: I have no such plans at present. I shall be publishing the outcome of the review of our national tourism strategy in the New Year. The actions arising from this review, together with a new approach to marketing that VisitScotland is developing, will both assist the industry recover from the effects of foot-and-mouth disease and the tragic events of September 11 and prosper in the longer term.

Tourism

Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what issues will be addressed in its wildlife tourism strategy to be published next year.

Mike Watson: This is an operational matter for VisitScotland and its partners. I understand that work is at a very early stage.

Tourism

Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-4241 by Mike Watson on 6 December 2001, whether it will give a definition of eco-tourism.

Mike Watson: Eco-tourism is tourism which is based on an appreciation of the natural environment of an area, contributes to the local economy and contributes to the conservation of the natural heritage being visited.

Tourism

Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that its current proposals for land reform improve the conservation of wildlife and the rearing of managed game, including fish, as core components of rural tourism.

Ross Finnie: The Land (Scotland) Reform Bill will not impede the rearing of managed game, including fish.

Tourism

Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it plans to take to redress the drops in visitor numbers to Scotland as identified by National Statistics in its press release of 10 December 2001.

Mike Watson: The drop in overseas tourism visitors for October is disappointing, but in line with expectations. Both VisitScotland and the British Tourist Authority are currently working on a number of new campaigns to encourage tourists to come to Scotland. These will be launched early in 2002. VisitScotland’s marketing budget is at a record level.

Tourism

Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it gave approval to, or had advance knowledge of, the decision by VisitScotland to issue shopping vouchers as a tourism promotion tool.

Mike Watson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20742 on 20 December 2001.

Tourism

Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the VisitScotland shopping voucher pilot scheme would breach any EU competition rules as a form of market assistance were it made available in other countries and whether there are any plans for a petrol voucher scheme to encourage European visitors to travel north of the central belt.

Mike Watson: VisitScotland’s "Shop till you Drop" campaign does not breach any EU competition rules. There are no plans to introduce a petrol voucher scheme.

Tourism

Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail any applications which VisitScotland has made to it for further funding for marketing.

Mike Watson: Any such applications would be made on a confidential basis.

Tourism

Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received from the tourism industry since the appointment of the new First Minister and what consultation it intends to undertake with the industry.

Mike Watson: I have met will the Chairman and Chief Executive of VisitScotland and intend to meet with industry organisations, including the Scottish Tourism Forum, as soon as possible. VisitScotland is currently consulting the industry about the review of the national tourism strategy.

Tourism

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there has been any development of tourism associated with family history and genealogy.

Mike Watson: VisitScotland will launch a Genealogy Tourism Strategy and dedicated website in January. The strategy will be launched in Glasgow, and also in America, Canada and Australia.

Traffic

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the latest estimates are of the increase in traffic flow on the A90 between the Forth Road Bridge and Barnton in each year until 2010.

Lewis Macdonald: The A90 between the Forth Road Bridge and Barnton is classified as a local road. This is therefore a matter for the City of Edinburgh Council to address.

Traffic

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin & Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it is giving to fast-track road scheme procedures for areas affected by traffic congestion.

Lewis Macdonald: Action is taken to anticipate significant milestones in the progress of a road scheme and to accelerate processes, for example by identifying potential dates for a public inquiry. There are no plans to reduce rights of public, business or other interests to examine and comment on the road scheme proposals.

Traffic

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average weekly traffic flow has been on the A8000 annually since January 1997 and what the estimated average weekly traffic flows are annually until December 2006.

Lewis Macdonald: The A8000 is classified as a local road. This is therefore a matter for City of Edinburgh Council to address.

Voluntary Organisations

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what financial support it is currently giving to befriending and mentoring services which assist people with health, social and educational difficulties and what future funding it plans to make available.

Iain Gray: The Scottish Executive does not currently fund these services and has no plans specifically in relation to befriending and mentoring services. However, national voluntary organisations are free to seek financial support from the Scottish Executive’s direct grant schemes. Details of how voluntary organisations can apply for funding can be found in the leaflet A Guide for the Voluntary Sector to Scottish Executive Grants , which is available from the Scottish Executive and the Parliament’s Reference Centre. General advice on funding for the voluntary sector is available from the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations.

Water Authorities

Fiona McLeod (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive (a) on what basis the assets of each water authority were valued on formation in 1996, (b), if different methods of valuation were used for each authority, what the reasons were for using different methods and (c) what the value of the total assets of each authority was at that date.

Ross Finnie: The basis for determining the values attributed to fixed assets on formation are set out in the accounting policies note in the notes to the accounts of each of the new water authorities.

  The net asset values on creation as shown in the water authorities’ annual accounts were:

  

 

£ million 
  



East of Scotland Water Authority 
  

254.704 
  



West of Scotland Water Authority 
  

402.903 
  



North of Scotland Water Authority 
  

270.147

Water Authorities

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the impact on water charges will be for the financial year 2001-02 in the (a) East of Scotland Water Authority, (b) North of Scotland Water Authority and (c) West of Scotland Water Authority should (i) 50%, (ii) 30% and (iii) 15% of the anticipated efficiency savings of £135 million not be achieved.

Ross Finnie: This information can be derived from the Water Industry Commissioner's Strategic Review of Charges held in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 17271).

Water Charges

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any impact studies have been carried out on the effects on the voluntary sector of withdrawal of water and sewerage charges relief.

Ross Finnie: The water authorities have estimated that it would cost the generality of their customers just over £11 million a year at today’s prices were they to continue to provide reliefs on water charges for the voluntary and charitable sectors. It follows that the phased withdrawal of reliefs will ultimately result in these sectors paying increased charges of just over £11 million a year at current charge prices.

Water Charges

Fiona McLeod (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to section 47 of Chapter 45, Part IV of the Water (Scotland) Act 1980 and section 28 of Part 3 of the Water Industry (Scotland) Bill, what types of premises are entitled to a supply of water free of charge by virtue of having such an entitlement prior to 16 May 1949 and what the annual cost is of providing such a supply to the public purse.

Ross Finnie: Premises receiving a free supply of water are generally farm properties connected to aqueducts running between water sources and treatment works. Such supplies were often provided to land owners when aqueducts were being constructed as part of the deal for allowing the aqueduct to cross their land. The annual cost of providing these supplies is a matter for the water authorities. This information is not held centrally.

Youth Crime

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S1W-18493 and S1W-18494 by Nicol Stephen on 22 November 2001, whether all the recommendations in the Report of the Advisory Group on Youth Crime will be implemented in full and what the amended timescale is for such implementation.

Cathy Jamieson: We have already implemented most of the Youth Crime Advisory Group’s recommendations. The Action Programme to Reduce Youth Crime 2002 to be published in January will set out how we intend to take this important agenda forward.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Holyrood Project

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer, further to his answers to questions S1W-20206 and S1W-20210 on 6 December 2001, which of the sub-contractors of Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd (a) received payment of their accounts in full, (b) received part-payment of their accounts and (c) received no payment of their accounts, and whether those who did not receive full payment of their accounts from the official receiver of Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd will receive payment from the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body.

Sir David Steel: The position of sub-contractors to Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd is a matter for the appointed receiver, D J Manning, Bo'ness, West Lothian.

Holyrood Project

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer which business address in the United Kingdom Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd used in their dealings in connection with the MSP building cladding contract and whether they used, indicated that they used or possessed any business address in Edinburgh.

Sir David Steel: The initial business address provided for Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd was "29 th Floor, 1 Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London EH14 5DY". The Convener of the Holyrood Progress Group has further confirmed that the company informed the Scottish Parliament on 9 May 2001, that its address had changed to "34 Queen Anne Street, London W1M 9LB". No indication of any business address in Edinburgh was given by Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd, other than in connection with the site accommodation at Holyrood.

Holyrood Project

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer,  further to his answer to question S1W-20306 on 7 December 2001, whether any amounts from the five payments that were made to Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd were in respect of work carried out by sub-contractors of Flour City and what the nature of any such work was.

Sir David Steel: The payments   made by the Scottish Parliament to Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd related to work performed in compliance with the contract between those two parties. The Convener of the Holyrood Progress Group has confirmed that the Parliament is not responsible for, and therefore holds no details of, payments made by Flour City to its sub-contractors.